Today marks the 46 year anniversary of the opening of Assembly Hall. Did you know that it was a UIUC architecture alum who designed it?
His name is Max Abramovitz. He graduated from the School of Architecture in 1929 with a bachelors and went on to receive his masters degree from Columbia University. He designed three buildings on the UIUC campus including the Hillel building, the Krannert Center and the Assembly Hall. He also designed a number of buildings at the campus of Columbia University.
His most prominent works include the United Nations Headquarters building, New York; Avery Fisher Hall (at Lincoln Center, originally the Philharmonic Hall, opened 1962), New York; the Corning Glass Center, Corning, New York; the U.S. Steel Tower (aka USX Tower) Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; the National City Tower in Louisville, Kentucky; and the Tour Gan, La Defense (Paris), France.
Mr. Arbramovitz died in the fall of 2004 at the age of 96. His legend at UIUC will be remain forever.
Editor’s Note: I’ve heard rumor that the Assembly Hall design was actually submitted as a final architecture project upon which it recieved a failing grade. The validity of this rumor has yet to be determined. If you have any information please pass it on to The Quad.
