Located on the University of Portland campus, Buckley Center Auditorium has been serving staff, students and the local community for decades. The auditorium was built in 1969, but having been founded in 1901, the university itself has over 120 years of history. The hall has fantastic acoustics and can seat up to 300 people, making it the perfect spot to host conferences, panel discussions, award ceremonies and even the enchanting series of Candlelight concerts.
The university is located in the University Park neighborhood near St Johns, and you can find the auditorium on campus between Clark Library and Swindells Hall. There are multiple bus stops right off campus that connect the university to the city, or you could get on the MAX Yellow Line.
Facts, Curiosities and Interesting Things about Buckley Center Auditorium
1. The Great Depression hit the university hard
By the late 1920s, the University of Portland had truly made a name for itself as one of the most prestigious universities in Oregon. However, when the Wall Street Crash of 1929 and the subsequent Great Depression hit, university enrollment declined significantly. To combat the issue, the university teamed up with St Vincent Hospital School of Nursing to increase student intake. A year later, they had enough funds to open the business school, and the university was back on track.
2. The construction of the auditorium was part of a bigger picture
When the 1960s came around, the university invested millions of dollars into the construction of new buildings on campus. Along with the Buckley Center Auditorium, several new student residencies were built as well as a new library. Thanks to these new additions, the university was transformed into a fully fledged campus.
3. The Buckley Center is a multi-purpose space
The Buckley Center is also home to the School of Nursing that comes equipped with a state-of-the-art simulation lab for students to get some hands-on experience. There are several study spaces inside the building, and students are free to reserve the auditorium to practice recitals, speeches and other public speaking events.
Candlelight concerts at Buckley Center Auditorium
This season, Buckley Center Auditorium will be hosting a series of spellbinding Candlelight concerts. The soothing sounds of live music will fill this magnificent setting which will be made even more magical thanks to the flicker of thousands of twinkling candles.
Experience enchanting evenings dedicated to the soundtracks heard in The Legend of Zelda games series as well as the scores composed by legendary anime composer Joe Hisaishi and the songs from your favorite superhero movies. Alongside a string quartet, a solo pianist will also be dazzling audiences with renditions of some of the most famous songs by The Beatles.
What else can you do at Buckley Center Auditorium?
Buckley Center Auditorium hosts a range of events including speeches, conferences and live music performances. Throughout the year, students put on theater productions, whether for their studies or as an extracurricular activity, and the public are welcome to watch them.
Over the years, Candlelight has been gracing several incredible venues in Portland with breathtaking live music and the enchanting glow from a sea of candles. Whether you experience these concerts with your friends, family, significant other or all by yourself, these magical evenings of music and light make for the perfect evening plan.