Memorial Gymnasium
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Gym tower's west face
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Location | 1001 University Ave. University of Idaho Moscow, Idaho, U.S. |
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Coordinates | 46°43′35.4″N 117°0′50.3″W / 46.726500°N 117.013972°WCoordinates: 46°43′35.4″N 117°0′50.3″W / 46.726500°N 117.013972°W |
Area | 0.3 acres (0.12 ha) |
Built | 1927–28 |
Architect | David C. Lange T. Pritchard - ass't |
Architectural style |
Tudor-Gothic heavily buttressed |
NRHP Reference # | 77000466 |
Added to NRHP | October 10, 1977 |
"Mem Gym" | |
Full name | War Memorial Gymnasium |
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Location | 1001 University Ave. University of Idaho Moscow, Idaho, U.S. |
Owner | University of Idaho |
Operator | University of Idaho |
Capacity | 2,500 |
Surface | hardwood |
Construction | |
Broke ground | 1927 (summer) |
Built | 1927–28 |
Opened | 1928 (November), 88 years ago |
Renovated | 1954 |
Expanded | 1951–52 |
Construction cost | $616,767 - (original) |
Architect | David C. Lange Theodore Pritchard - ass't |
Structural engineer | A.T. Schenck |
General contractor | Victor N. Jones & Assoc. - Boise |
Tenants | |
Idaho Vandals volleyball |
War Memorial Gymnasium is a 2,500-seat multi-purpose indoor arena in the northwest United States, on the campus of the University of Idaho in Moscow, Idaho. Opened 88 years ago in November 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 buttressed; the chief architect was David C. Lange, 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 gargoyles and stained glass windows.
Memorial Gymnasium was the primary home of Vandal basketball until January 1976, replaced by the newly-enclosed Kibbie Dome; 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. During the 1940s and early 1950s, Idaho had a nationally prominent boxing team; 5,200 attended a dual meet against neighbor Washington State in 1950. It was dropped by the university as an intercollegiate sport in 1954, and discontinued by the NCAA after 1960.