Johnson, SusanBurk, KathrynStoller, Melissa2023-09-062023-09-062006https://hdl.handle.net/1794/288374 pagesDesigned by Annand & Kennedy Architects & Engineers of Portland, the University Theatre was approved by the Board of Regents in April of 1948. Many students, alumni, professors and staff voiced objections to the plan to attach such a modern structure to the historic Villard Hall, a National Historic Landmark. The then Dean of AAA, Sidney W. Little, believed the theatre addition would be an aesthetically pleasing contrast against Villard. The new theatre held an audience of 400 and opened in November of 1949. It is considered the west end of Villard Hall, not a separate building. The cost of construction was $468,000 including the remodeling of the interior of Villard. Robinson has a one story lobby and reaches four stories at the “fly tower.” Robinson has no decorative features. The Theatre was renamed in 1976 for Horace Robinson, theater faculty member from 1932 to 1976. He is credited with consulting on the design of the theater, especially the interior. Robinson Theatre is on the Dad’s Gate Axis and near the Deady Hall Walk Axis. Many significant trees occupy the grounds, although many more were lost when the theatre was constructed. Grading during construction of the Robinson Theatre stage buried the Normal Gate, a wrought iron arbor installed in 1885 by the Normal School Graduates as a memorial to themselves due to the closure of the two-year teaching certificate program in 1885. It was finally unearthed 55 years later by University of Oregon Historic Preservation Students in 2004-2005, who then had it repaired and reinstalled for Preservation Week 2005. Retired Professor Emeritus Horace Robinson came to campus during May 2005 for the rededication ceremony and gave a speech at the age of 95.enCreative Commons BY-NC-ND 4.0-UShistoryarchitecturecultural resources surveyOther