Memorial Gymnasium (University of Idaho)
Encyclopedia
Memorial Gymnasium is a 2,500 seat multi-purpose arena
on the campus of the University of Idaho
in Moscow
, Idaho
. Opened in 1928, the venue honors state residents who gave their lives in the service of their country in World War I
. The architectural style is Tudor-Gothic
and is heavily buttress
ed; the chief architect
was David C. Lang, the head of the university's architecture department. The west end addition was built from 1951–52, and the building was renovated in 1954. Ivy
partially covers the brick and concrete exterior, which is decorated with crouching football player gargoyle
s and stained glass
windows.
The Memorial Gymnasium was the home of Idaho Vandals
basketball
until the enclosure of the Kibbie Dome
in late 1975; the Dome's basketball configuration was renamed "Cowan Spectrum" in early 2001. Currently the "Mem Gym" is the home court of Vandal women's volleyball
, and occasionally hosts early season basketball games, depending upon the late season football
schedule. The facility is used extensively for physical education
classes, intramurals
, and open recreation. Commencement ceremonies for the College of Engineering are traditionally held in the venue in mid-May.
At just 49 years of age, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places
in 1977.
Arena
An arena is an enclosed area, often circular or oval-shaped, designed to showcase theater, musical performances, or sporting events. It is composed of a large open space surrounded on most or all sides by tiered seating for spectators. The key feature of an arena is that the event space is the...
on the campus of the University of Idaho
University of Idaho
The University of Idaho is the State of Idaho's flagship and oldest public university, located in the rural city of Moscow in Latah County in the northern portion of the state...
in Moscow
Moscow, Idaho
Moscow is a city in northern Idaho, situated along the Washington/Idaho border. It is the most populous city and county seat of Latah County and the home of the University of Idaho, the land grant institution and primary research university for the state...
, Idaho
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
. Opened in 1928, the venue honors state residents who gave their lives in the service of their country in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. The architectural style is Tudor-Gothic
Gothic Revival architecture
The Gothic Revival is an architectural movement that began in the 1740s in England...
and is heavily buttress
Buttress
A buttress is an architectural structure built against or projecting from a wall which serves to support or reinforce the wall...
ed; the chief architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
was David C. Lang, the head of the university's architecture department. The west end addition was built from 1951–52, and the building was renovated in 1954. Ivy
Ivy
Ivy, plural ivies is a genus of 12–15 species of evergreen climbing or ground-creeping woody plants in the family Araliaceae, native to western, central and southern Europe, Macaronesia, northwestern Africa and across central-southern Asia east to Japan and Taiwan.-Description:On level ground they...
partially covers the brick and concrete exterior, which is decorated with crouching football player gargoyle
Gargoyle
In architecture, a gargoyle is a carved stone grotesque, usually made of granite, with a spout designed to convey water from a roof and away from the side of a building thereby preventing rainwater from running down masonry walls and eroding the mortar between...
s and stained glass
Stained glass
The term stained glass can refer to coloured glass as a material or to works produced from it. Throughout its thousand-year history, the term has been applied almost exclusively to the windows of churches and other significant buildings...
windows.
The Memorial Gymnasium was the home of Idaho Vandals
Idaho Vandals
The Idaho Vandals are the intercollegiate athletic teams of the University of Idaho. They participate in NCAA Division I - FBS in the Western Athletic Conference ....
basketball
College basketball
College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....
until the enclosure of the Kibbie Dome
Kibbie Dome
The William H. Kibbie-ASUI Activity Center is a multi-purpose indoor athletic stadium in Moscow, Idaho, on the campus of the University of Idaho...
in late 1975; the Dome's basketball configuration was renamed "Cowan Spectrum" in early 2001. Currently the "Mem Gym" is the home court of Vandal women's volleyball
Volleyball
Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.The complete rules are extensive...
, and occasionally hosts early season basketball games, depending upon the late season football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
schedule. The facility is used extensively for physical education
Physical education
Physical education or gymnastics is a course taken during primary and secondary education that encourages psychomotor learning in a play or movement exploration setting....
classes, intramurals
Intramural sports
Intramural sports or intramurals are recreational sports organized within a set geographic area. The term derives from the Latin words intra muros meaning "within walls", and was used to indicate sports matches and contests that took place among teams from "within the walls" of an ancient city...
, and open recreation. Commencement ceremonies for the College of Engineering are traditionally held in the venue in mid-May.
At just 49 years of age, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1977.
External links
- Photo of Memorial Gymnasium - north side exterior - circa 1930s
- Photo of Memorial Gymnasium - from northeast - circa 1950s - (Neale StadiumNeale StadiumNeale Stadium was an outdoor athletic stadium in Moscow, Idaho, on the west end of the campus of the University of Idaho. Opened in 1937 for college football , it was used for over three decades, through the 1968 season...
in background) - Vandal Boxing - 1949 - 4200 in Mem Gym
- University of Idaho - University Support Services - Memorial Gymnasium - history
