The ASU Gammage venue in Tempe is celebrating its 60 year anniversary. The performing arts center has served as the hub for musicals, convocations and other events.
Famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright designed the building and worked with past ASU President Grady Gammage.
In an appearance on “Arizona Horizon,” the building’s executive director, Colleen Jennings-Roggensack, says the venue came to fruition when Wright took a tour of the campus.
“Mr. Wright and President Gammage walked the grounds of Arizona State University. Mr. Wright put his stick, walking stick, in the ground and said, ‘Here, we will build a great performing arts center with open arms that says welcome to Arizona,’ and it happened to have been the women’s athletic fields," she said.
Neither Wright nor Gammage lived long enough to see the completion of the building.
Over time, the venue evolved and increased accessibility by adding ramps.
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