Times-Union Center for the Performing Arts
| Times-Union Center of the Performing Arts | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Address | 300 W Water St Jacksonville, FL 32202-4432 |
| Location | Jacksonville Riverwalk, Downtown Jacksonville |
| Owner | City of Jacksonville |
| Operator | SMG |
| Opened | September 16, 1962 |
| Renovated | 1995-97 |
|
Construction cost
|
$34 million (1997 renovations) ($53.4 million in 2017 dollars) |
|
Former names
|
Civic Auditorium (1962-97) |
| Banquet/ballroom | 500 (South Marquee) 250 (Davis Gallery) 200 (Shircliff Lounge) |
|
Theatre seating
|
2,979 (Moran Theater) 1,724 (Jacoby Symphony Hall) 609 (Terry Theater) |
| Enclosed space | |
| • Breakout/meeting | 9,101 square feet (845.5 m2) |
| • Ballroom | 30,248 square feet (2,810.1 m2) |
| Website | |
| Venue Website | |
The Times-Union Center for the Performing Arts (TUCPA) (originally the Civic Auditorium and commonly known as the Times Union Center) is a performing arts center located in Jacksonville, Florida. Situated along the Riverbank, the venue is known as the First Coast’s "premiere riverfront entertainment facility". Originally opening in 1962, the facility was renovated beginning in 1995 until 1997; with a grand re-opening on February 8, 1997. The center consists of three venues: a theatre; concert hall and recital hall. It is home to the FSCJ Artist Series, Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra, Jacksonville Symphony Youth Orchestra and showcase, Extravaganza.
Commissioned in 1955, the City of Jacksonville approved a new civic auditorium and a municipal coliseum, to help brighten the scenery around the riverfront. In 1957, the site was purchased from the Seaboard Air Line Railroad. At the same time, Mayor W. Haydon Burns successfully lobbied the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad to move its headquarters from North Carolina to Jacksonville. Thus, construction began on the auditorium and the Atlantic Coastline Building (now CSX Building) both began in 1957.
On December 7, 1957, the Seaboard Docks were demolished to make way for the forthcoming auditorium. The site was prepared via bulk heading the shoreline of the St. Johns River. This involved walling out the shoreline and adding fill dirt. The original site of the municipal coliseum (now where the Jacksonville Landing sits) was moved further along the riverbank and opened in 1960 along with the Atlantic Coastline Building. The Civic Auditorium was opened on September 16, 1962, with a performance by the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra. The center served as a replacement for the aging Duval County Armory and became the preferred mid-sized concert venue alongside the Florida Theatre. The civic auditorium consisted of the main auditorium, "Exhibition Hall" and the "Little Theater".
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