Bailey Hall, Greek Revival auditorium at Cornell University, Ithaca, United States
Bailey Hall is the largest auditorium at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, built in the Greek Revival style with a columned entrance portico and a broad outdoor stairway leading up to the entrance. Inside, the hall is arranged as a traditional auditorium with tiered seating facing a stage, suited for concerts, lectures, and large university events.
The hall was designed in 1912 by the architecture firm Green & Wicks and named after Jared T. Bailey, a benefactor who provided the funds for its construction. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984, recognizing its architectural value.
Bailey Hall hosts a long-running concert series that brings performers from around the world to the Cornell campus. The audience tends to be a mix of students and Ithaca residents, giving the hall a role in connecting the university with the wider community.
Bailey Hall sits on the Cornell campus and is easy to reach on foot from the main paths; signage around campus helps orient first-time visitors. The hall is generally open for scheduled events, so checking the program in advance will help you plan your visit.
One of the wooden benches on the plaza in front of the hall was made from a single Oregon Douglas fir log, left as one solid piece rather than cut into planks. This creates an unexpected contrast with the stone steps and columns of the building just behind it.
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