Hoch Auditorium

Hoch Auditorium was a 3,500-seat multi-purpose arena on the same site. It featured a traditional Gothic architecture and was home to the University of Kansas Jayhawks basketball teams until Allen Fieldhouse opened in 1955.

Many of Hoch's nicknames during the basketball years were "Horrible Hoch" and "The House of Horrors." Such nicknames were in reference to the difficulty opposing teams had in dealing with the tight area surrounding the court and the curved walls and decorative lattice work directly behind the backboards. The curvature of the walls made the backboards appear to be moving causing opponents to miss free throws.

In addition to being home to the KU Jayhawks, Hoch Auditorium played host to many events such as The University of Kansas' annual Rock Chalk Revue (a variety show now performed at the Lied Center that benefits the local United Way).

In 1957, Andrew McKinley was the tenor soloist in the world premiere of Cecil Effinger's oratorio The Invisible Fire at Hoch Auditorium with the Kansas City Philharmonic under conductor Thor Johnson.

In 1967, Hoch Auditorium became the site of a fatal accident when 15 year old Lorraine Kelvin of Clayton, Missouri fell 64-70 feet from a catwalk while attending the Kansas University Midwestern Music and Arts Camp.

On June 15, 1991, Hoch Auditorium was struck by lightning. The auditorium and stage area were completely destroyed. Only the limestone facade and lobby area were spared. When reconstruction of the building was complete, the rear half of the building was named Budig Hall, for then KU Chancellor Gene Budig. The name on the facade was altered to reflect the presence of three large auditorium-style lecture halls within the building: Hoch Auditoria.