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PAC HISTORY
The Performing Arts Center at the University
at Albany was constructed in 1969. The facility replaced
the aging theater space on the Downtown Campus, Page
Hall.
Page Hall, named for David Perkins Page,
was constructed as part of a major upgrade for the New
York State College for Teachers in 1929. Page Hall served
as the primary performance space for the College until
it was announced in the early 1960's that a new campus
was to be constructed. This new construction was to
include a state-of-the-art performing arts facility.
In 1962, the New York State College for
Teachers became the State University of New York at
Albany (now called simply the University at Albany)
and a new campus located on the west end of Albany was
planned. The new facility was designed by noted architect
Edward Durell Stone, designer of the Kennedy Center
for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC. By 1966,
students were occupying the new campus, although the
entire project was not completed until 1969.
On Wednesday, April 16, 1969, the Performing Arts Center
on the Uptown Campus was dedicated. The Performing Arts
Center, also known as the PAC, was the last building
on the academic podium to be completed and was hailed
a marvelous achievement by arts professionals and the
media alike. The Departments of Music and Theatre were
moved into their new home in late April, 1969.
The Performing Arts Center has served as the primary performance
space for the University for nearly forty years. Page
Hall continues to play host to a fairly large number of
events as well. Over eight thousand performances have
taken place in the facilities. Although the primary users
of the PAC continue to be its residents, the Departments
of Music and Theatre, many other organizations, on campus
and off, have held their events in its excellent facilities.
The Performing Arts Center is a unique, important and
exciting "jewel in the crown" of the University
at Albany.
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