Memorial Coliseum (Corpus Christi)
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Location | Corpus Christi, Texas |
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Coordinates | 27°47′14.6″N 97°23′36.5″W / 27.787389°N 97.393472°W |
Capacity | 3,000 |
Construction | |
Opened | September 26, 1954 |
Closed | January 2010 |
Demolished | June 2010 |
The Memorial Coliseum was an arena in Corpus Christi, Texas that had a capacity of about 3,000 which was demolished in June 2010.
Dedication
The Coliseum was dedicated on September 26, 1954 to 400 men and women who gave their lives in
Architecture
The Memorial Coliseum was an architecturally significant building of the
The architect of Memorial Coliseum, Richard S. Colley, was Corpus Christi's local star in the world of architecture.
The original design included a comprehensive plan for a bayfront 'Civic Center' which would include a
Colley's Coliseum design began attracting the attention of the national architectural community even before it was built. In January 1952, the ‘auditorium plan’ (Coliseum and Exposition Hall) was awarded the annual jury prize by Progressive Architecture for being “the most noteworthy submission among buildings for public use.” The entire complex (Coliseum, Exposition Hall and City Hall) were featured in a 16-page article in the February 1953 issue of Progressive Architecture which included photographs, floor plans and construction details.
In 1954, during the final construction phase of the Coliseum, Progressive Architecture featured the building again. Its lamella roof was pictured on the magazine’s cover and the related article discussed the design of the auditorium and included several photos of the building under construction.
Photographs
In 1955, Memorial Coliseum was included in the “Building and Construction” section of the Encyclopædia Britannica Book-of-the-Year.
In 1958, the Coliseum was photographed for the Carnegie Study of the Arts of the United States by photographer John Waggaman. It was chosen because of its “significance in the history of American Architecture” and for its “successful merger of beauty and functionality.”
A photograph of Memorial Coliseum was also displayed in the United States pavilion at Expo 58, the 1958 Brussels World’s Fair.
Both the unusual design and the innovative construction methods of Memorial Coliseum were featured in
Demolition
As of January 12, 2010 the Memorial Coliseum was scheduled to be demolished.[1] The coliseum was taken down by demolition June 30, 2010.
Bibliography
- "Civic Buildings: Corpus Christi.” Progressive Architecture 34 (February 1953): 83-92.
“Civilian Defense Building and City Auditorium: Corpus Christi, Texas.” Progressive Architecture 33 (June 1952): 83. - “Cubierta Aligerada De Gran Luz.” Informes de la Construccion (April 1955).
- Dames, Urban. “Columbia Iron Welds Structural Steel Framework.” Welding Arcs 20 (January 1954): 12-13.
- “High Span Light Roof.” Architectural Forum (March 1954).
- Kiewitt, Dr. G.R. “The New Look in Lamella Roof Construction.” Reprinted from February 1960 Architectural Record by Roof Structures, Inc.
- “Lamella Steel Arches: Convention and Exhibition Hall, Corpus Christi, Texas.” Progressive Architecture 35 (June 1954): 106-107.
- Peissi, P. "Quelques Réflexions sur l'esthétique de la construction métallique." L'architecture d'aujourd'hui (March 1956): 74-75.
- “Steel lamella supports long-span roof.” Engineering News-Record (November 26, 1953): 41.