Baldwin Auditorium
From Duke Wiki
 Baldwin Auditorium, as one approaches from the East Campus Bus Stop | |
| Telephone | 919.660.1750 |
|---|---|
| Hours | 9 AM - 5 PM (Mon - Fri), except during Performances |
| Rent | No charge for recognized Duke student groups No charge for Duke affiliated groups $250 Non-Duke, Non-Profit groups $350 Non-Duke, For-Profit groups |
| Disabled Access | The entire facility, including restrooms, is fully accessible to disabled persons |
The 890-seat Baldwin Auditorium concert hall is located on East Campus, off of Markham Avenue between Broad Street and Buchanan Boulevard. Named in 1964 for Alice Mary Baldwin, first Dean of the Woman's College (1930-47), the Auditorium primarily serves the Music Department but is also available for reservations. It is a lovely concert hall with balcony seating, a domed roof, and strong white pillars on the outer facade.
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[edit] Major Performances/Events
Each year, during Freshman Orientation, Duke University Improv kicks off the performance season with their orientation show, geared especially to the freshman class. It is also home to all major Duke Symphony Orchestra, Duke Wind Symphony, and Duke Chorale performances.
[Please add other key performances.]
[edit] Inside the Hall
The front entrance is a marble foyer that leads into four (4) entrances into the auditorium. A large white dome ceiling and velvet rose-colored seats characterize the auditorium. Each wall has small wall chandeliers and rose and black chandeliers and rose and black curtains. The floor is black and white check.
The stage has a permanently mounted sound shell roof over the stage and reflector sections that line the back wall. There are two main speakers mounted in the wall with Crown 700 amplified.
[edit] Outside the Hall
Perhaps the most distinguishing characteristic of the auditorium is the large domed structure upon the building's roof. Although the use of domes is very popular in Georgian-style architecture, Baldwin Auditorium's doom has a unique design that distinguishes it from the rest. The dome is actually comprised of two domes. The smaller dome is visible from the inside of the auditorium and contains a skylight. This skylight shaft spans upwards to connect the two separate shells.
Florescent lights are located throughout the skylight shaft, in order to produce a "daylight effect" even at night. Slate shingles cover the entire surface of the outer dome, except where copper molding is wrapped around the outside edge of the skylight. Copper sheets also line the base of the dome, which has a circumference of 245 feet.
[edit] History
Baldwin Auditorium, previously known as the East Campus Auditorium and the Woman's College Auditorium, was built between 1926 and 1930 and was officially dedicated as the Baldwin Auditorium in honor of Dean Alice Mary Baldwin on May 2, 1964. Baldwin Auditorium was designed by Horace Trumbauer and Julian Abele. Although the campus was chosen to have Georgian style architecture, hints of Federal (or Adam style), a development and refinement of the preceding Georgian style, can be seen. One can see the identifying features of Georgian-style architecture, as well as Federal architecture used in the design of Baldwin.
