Macky Auditorium

Macky Auditorium Concert Hall is one of CU Boulder’s most iconic landmarks and enduring cultural centers. Groundbreaking for the building took place on Sept. 20, 1909, after a $300,000 bequest from Boulder pioneer and banker Andrew J. Macky. Legal challenges to Macky’s estate delayed construction, and the project ultimately took 13 years to complete before opening in 1922. Designed in a Collegiate Gothic style, the auditorium quickly became a focal point of university life and remains a defining feature of the historic Norlin Quadrangle.

Since its completion, Macky Auditorium has hosted generations of students, faculty, artists and public figures. Over the decades, it has served as the site of commencement ceremonies, performances, lectures and major cultural events, while also housing university offices and academic programs. The venue has been home to organizations and events including the Boulder Philharmonic Orchestra, the Conference on World Affairs, and countless performances by CU Boulder’s College of Music.

Today, Macky Auditorium Concert Hall continues to serve both the university and the broader community as a premier performance venue. As one of the buildings that make up the Norlin Quadrangle Historic District, it hosts local, national and international artists while supporting music, arts and public dialogue on campus. More than a century after construction began, Macky remains a symbol of CU Boulder’s commitment to culture, creativity and civic engagement.