Memorial Auditorium renovations complete after official ribbon cutting
Faculty, students, and donors filled Memorial Auditorium on Saturday, Sept. 12, during Cobber Fest at Concordia College for the official ribbon cutting of Memorial Auditorium. The ceremony marked the completion of extensive renovations to the building, which has been around since 1952.
During the ribbon cutting, 23 faculty members, students and donors stepped onto the court and grabbed hold of a piece of ribbon. Once the ribbon was cut, cheers erupted throughout the crowd.
“Not only is it a place to perform, but it’s a place to compete,” President Colin Irvine said.
The auditorium hosts basketball and volleyball games as well as the Homecoming, Christmas and Masterworks concerts. The space is also used for Orientation and graduation ceremonies, where Cobbers start and end their journey at Concordia.
The $2.5 million project started mid-March this year and was completed near the end of August; just in time for freshman orientation.The chair of the music department, Dr. Nat Dickey, detailed several specific improvements that will benefit the music performed in the space.
“With this renovation, what you see, of course, is visual upgrades, better lighting so our musicians can see their music, and better seating so audience members can be more comfortable when listening,” Dickey said.
There is also a new floor covering that will help transform Memorial Auditorium into a concert hall when applied and wood grain veneer sound shelves that will provide a professional aesthetic. Less notable to the audience but noticeable to students are the acoustic refinements designed to assist musicians with clearer communication during performances.
Not only will the music department benefit from the upgrades, but so will those involved in athletics. Athletic Director Rachel Bergeson noted that the floor of the main basketball court has been redone and also has a new design, inspired by corn plants. There are new video scoreboards as well.
“Memorial Auditorium has been a part of my family's history for over 70 years, I can absolutely say that I grew up here,” she said.
Bergeson continued to share her experience at Concordia, noting that her first year she was scared to death during Orientation, but going into her second, she felt like a true Cobber. Bergeson recalls seeing coaches pouring their hearts into their work every day and getting to provide students with a new space makes them all feel special.
Although renovations took several months to complete, Irvine, Bergeson and Dickey all noted that the wait was worth it. The newly done building isn’t going to benefit just one student, but the entire student body.
“We transform students’ lives, help them figure out who they are, and give them the confidence to go out into the world and make it a better place,” Bergeson said. With the renovations complete, students will be able to use the court and perform in Memorial Auditorium this year.
After the ribbon was cut, Erica Johnsrud, director of alumni and family engagement, invited everyone to go enjoy the Cobber Fest activities before the football game against St. Olaf later that night.
Written by Kaylee Robinson '27