Florida Gymnasium
Encyclopedia
Florida Gymnasium is a historic building located on the campus of the University of Florida
in Gainesville, Florida
. Design work was begun by university architect Rudolph Weaver
during World War II
and completed by his successor Guy Fulton. It replaced the old University Gymnasium built in 1915, which then became the Women's Gymnasium
. Florida Gym opened in 1949 as a 7,000-seat multi-purpose arena
that was home to the Florida Gators men's basketball
team until it was replaced by the Stephen C. O'Connell Center as the university's indoor sports area in 1980. While serving as the home court of the Gators basketball team, it was also known as "Alligator Alley."
Florida Gymnasium was adapted to other uses after the O'Connell Center was completed In the mid-1990s, the last remains of the original seating sections were removed and replaced with classrooms for the College of Health and Human Performance
during a major renovation of the facility. The playing surface remains, and is used for student recreation and other purposes.
In 2008, Florida Gymnasium became a contributing property
in the University of Florida Campus Historic District
which was added to the National Register of Historic Places
on April 20, 1989.
University of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
in Gainesville, Florida
Gainesville, Florida
Gainesville is the largest city in, and the county seat of, Alachua County, Florida, United States as well as the principal city of the Gainesville, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area . The preliminary 2010 Census population count for Gainesville is 124,354. Gainesville is home to the sixth...
. Design work was begun by university architect Rudolph Weaver
Rudolph Weaver
Rudolph Weaver was an American architect and university professor and administrator renowned for various buildings that he designed in Florida, Idaho and Washington, many of which are academic....
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and completed by his successor Guy Fulton. It replaced the old University Gymnasium built in 1915, which then became the Women's Gymnasium
Women's Gymnasium (Gainesville, Florida)
Kathryn Chicone Ustler Hall is an historic building on the campus of the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida. It was designed by William Augustus Edwards in the Collegiate Gothic style. On June 27, 1979, it was added to the U.S...
. Florida Gym opened in 1949 as a 7,000-seat multi-purpose arena
Arena
An arena is an enclosed area, often circular or oval-shaped, designed to showcase theater, musical performances, or sporting events. It is composed of a large open space surrounded on most or all sides by tiered seating for spectators. The key feature of an arena is that the event space is the...
that was home to the Florida Gators men's basketball
Florida Gators men's basketball
The Florida Gators men's basketball team represents the University of Florida in the sport of basketball. The Gators compete in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I and the Southeastern Conference...
team until it was replaced by the Stephen C. O'Connell Center as the university's indoor sports area in 1980. While serving as the home court of the Gators basketball team, it was also known as "Alligator Alley."
Florida Gymnasium was adapted to other uses after the O'Connell Center was completed In the mid-1990s, the last remains of the original seating sections were removed and replaced with classrooms for the College of Health and Human Performance
University of Florida College of Health and Human Performance
The University of Florida College of Health and Human Performance is a college at the University of Florida. The college has three departments, and four research centers. The college is unique in that the majors that are offered are inter-disciplinary in nature...
during a major renovation of the facility. The playing surface remains, and is used for student recreation and other purposes.
In 2008, Florida Gymnasium became a contributing property
Contributing property
In the law regulating historic districts in the United States, a contributing resource or contributing property is any building, structure, or object which adds to the historical integrity or architectural qualities that make the historic district, listed locally or federally, significant...
in the University of Florida Campus Historic District
University of Florida Campus Historic District
The University of Florida Campus Historic District is a historic district on the campus of the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida. The district, bounded by West University Avenue, Southwest 13th Street, Stadium Road and North-South Drive, encompasses approximately and contains 11 listed...
which was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
on April 20, 1989.
See also
- Buildings at the University of FloridaBuildings at the University of FloridaThe University of Florida is a flagship university in the State University System of Florida and has many notable buildings located in Gainesville, Jacksonville, Orlando and throughout Florida. The Campus Historic District at the University of Florida comprises 32 contributing properties that are...
- History of the University of FloridaHistory of the University of FloridaThe history of the University of Florida is firmly tied to the history of public education in the state of Florida. The University of Florida, colloquially known as "Florida" or "UF," originated as several distinct institutions that were merged to create a single state-supported university by the...