In Hancher's brand new building, everyone wants the perfect seat for the show. They'll all be comfortable with a great view of the stage.
Hancher Open House
Hancher Open House
Sunday, September 11, 2016, 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm
Free
We can't wait to welcome you inside the new Hancher Auditorium! The Hancher Showcase will also be open during the open houses.
Learn more about the new Hancher at inspire.uiowa.edu.
News
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![IOWA’S HANCHER AUDITORIUM OPENS IOWA’S HANCHER AUDITORIUM OPENS](https://hancher.uiowa.edu/sites/hancher.uiowa.edu/files/2016_09_14_venues.jpg)
Venues Today - Wednesday, September 14, 2016
Eight years after The University of Iowa’s Hancher Auditorium was essentially leveled by floodwaters from the Iowa River, the new $175-million performing arts center has emerged better than ever.
Construction for the 191,977-square-foot building in Iowa City began in May 2013, and the building will host about 50 performances annually.
![The Pearl of Iowa City's Oyster The Pearl of Iowa City's Oyster](https://hancher.uiowa.edu/sites/hancher.uiowa.edu/files/2016_09_12_dailyiowan.jpg)
The Daily Iowan - Monday, September 12, 2016
On Sept. 9, Hancher hosted its first open house since construction was completed on the three-year project. There was an opening ceremony and a ribbon-cutting, after which members of the public were turned loose to explore the rest of the building on their own.
![Standing Ovation Standing Ovation](https://hancher.uiowa.edu/sites/hancher.uiowa.edu/files/2016_09_12_iowanow.jpg)
Iowa Now - Monday, September 12, 2016
Hundreds of enthusiastic patrons and well-wishers from across the country—including local, state, and national leaders—gave a standing ovation to the University of Iowa's new Hancher Auditorium during a grand opening ceremony on Friday, Sept. 9.
![Hancher Auditorium Grand Opening Hancher Auditorium Grand Opening](https://hancher.uiowa.edu/sites/hancher.uiowa.edu/files/2016_09_10_lv_0.jpg)
Little Village - Saturday, September 10, 2016
It’s been eight long years since floodwater overtook the stage at Hancher Auditorium. After years of planning and construction, the University of Iowa’s new Hancher Auditorium has opened it’s doors. A grand opening was held to welcome the public to the new $176 million dollar performance space. Just before the ceremonial ribbon was cut there were speeches by University of Iowa President Bruce Harreld, Governor Terry Brandstad and Hancher benefactors Mary Jo and Dick Stanley, among others.
![New Hancher Auditorium unveiled today New Hancher Auditorium unveiled today](https://hancher.uiowa.edu/sites/hancher.uiowa.edu/files/2016_09_09_kwwl.jpg)
KWWL - Friday, September 9, 2016
A new and improved Hancher Auditorium opens on the University of Iowa campus today.
![U-I shows off new Hancher Auditorium U-I shows off new Hancher Auditorium](https://hancher.uiowa.edu/sites/hancher.uiowa.edu/files/2016_09_17_radioiowa.jpg)
Radio Iowa - Friday, September 9, 2016
A ribbon cutting ceremony is planned for this afternoon at the University of Iowa’s new Hancher Auditorium.
The $176 million performing arts center replaces the original Hancher which was inundated by floodwaters in 2008. Tours of the new 18-hundred seat Hancher will be given during open houses tonight and Sunday afternoon.
![Creative Collaboration Yields Iconic Arts Space: Hancher Auditorium Debuts Creative Collaboration Yields Iconic Arts Space: Hancher Auditorium Debuts](https://hancher.uiowa.edu/sites/hancher.uiowa.edu/files/2016_09_08_thornton.jpg)
Thornton Tomasetti - Thursday, September 8, 2016
The University of Iowa’s new Hancher Auditorium makes its debut on September 9. With a sculptural form composed of curving, cantilevered terraces clad in stainless steel and glass, the 1,800-seat performing arts facility is the result of intensive collaboration among design-team members from 17 organizations. Theater design is never simple, but a compressed schedule and atypical geometry added complexity to the design process. Thornton Tomasetti’s façade specialists, structural engineers and construction support professionals worked closely with one another and with all design and construction team members to develop sophisticated solutions to several significant engineering challenges.
![Slideshow: Touring the New Hancher Auditorium Slideshow: Touring the New Hancher Auditorium](https://hancher.uiowa.edu/sites/hancher.uiowa.edu/files/2016_04_27_iowapublicradio_0.jpg)
Iowa Public Radio - Thursday, September 8, 2016
From the time it opened in 1972, Hancher Auditorium on the University of Iowa campus was one of the premier performance spaces in Iowa. That all changed with the historic flooding of Eastern Iowa in 2008 when the auditorium was flooded beyond repair.
![Take a tour of the new Hancher Auditorium Take a tour of the new Hancher Auditorium](https://hancher.uiowa.edu/sites/hancher.uiowa.edu/files/2016_09_07_presscitizen.jpg)
Iowa City Press Citizen - Wednesday, September 7, 2016
Beautiful views and a building that is art itself are among the key features of the new Hancher Auditorium, rebuilt after flooding destroyed the University of Iowa performing arts center.
![Hancher Ribbon-cutting and Open House this Friday Hancher Ribbon-cutting and Open House this Friday](https://hancher.uiowa.edu/sites/hancher.uiowa.edu/files/2016_09_10_lv.jpg)
Little Village - Wednesday, September 7, 2016
This Friday, a six-year wait comes to an end as the Hancher Auditorium reopens to the delight of eastern Iowans with a ribbon-cutting ceremony this Friday, Sept. 9 at 3 p.m. Following the ceremony, there will be an open house and viewing of the University’s $176 million LEED gold certified auditorium and performance building.
![The Pearl Comes Back The Pearl Comes Back](https://hancher.uiowa.edu/sites/hancher.uiowa.edu/files/2016_09_07_dailyiowan.jpg)
The Daily Iowan - Wednesday, September 7, 2016
On Friday, the new version of the legendary performance hall will open its doors to the public after eight long years of discussion, planning, and construction. Beginning with a ribbon-cutting celebration at 3 p.m., the day’s events will also include a formal open house, welcoming the community inside Hancher’s new walls. For those that won’t be able to make the event on Friday — or for those who want to get another look at the space — there will also be a second open house on Sept. 11.
![Culture Crawl 188 “Now With An Actual Building” Culture Crawl 188 “Now With An Actual Building”](https://hancher.uiowa.edu/sites/hancher.uiowa.edu/files/2016_09_07_kcck.jpg)
KCCK - Wednesday, September 7, 2016
Culture Crawl 188 “Now With An Actual Building”
Rob Cline runs down the events of opening celebration of the new Hancher Auditorium, which includes a ribbon cutting and open house Sept. 9 & 11, a free outdoor concert with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band and Trombone Shorty on Sept. 16, and UI alum David Sanborn in concert Sept. 29.
![Hancher Auditorium set to open in Iowa City Hancher Auditorium set to open in Iowa City](https://hancher.uiowa.edu/sites/hancher.uiowa.edu/files/2016_09_06_kcrg.jpg)
KCRG - Tuesday, September 6, 2016
Hancher Auditorium in Iowa City is set to open to the public this Friday with a ribbon cutting ceremony and open house.
![Eight years in the making, Hancher making triumphant return Eight years in the making, Hancher making triumphant return](https://hancher.uiowa.edu/sites/hancher.uiowa.edu/files/2016_09_04_gazette.jpg)
The Gazette - Sunday, September 4, 2016
The University of Iowa’s largest classroom has created an eight-year learning curve the likes of which no one could have imagined in June 2008.
That’s when raging floodwaters from the Iowa River engulfed Hancher Auditorium, the UI’s premiere performing arts center, sending staff scrambling to find other venues in which to present world-class artists until a new edifice could be financed, designed and built.
![Building memories: Hancher holds special place in people's hearts Building memories: Hancher holds special place in people's hearts](https://hancher.uiowa.edu/sites/hancher.uiowa.edu/files/2016_09_04_gazette_oldbuilding.jpg)
The Gazette - Sunday, September 4, 2016
Everybody has a Hancher story. That’s the lesson that’s emerged for Executive Director Chuck Swanson in the wake of the 2008 flood that ruined the original structure and gave rise to the University of Iowa’s new performing arts center.
!['Hancher does need a home' 'Hancher does need a home'](https://hancher.uiowa.edu/sites/hancher.uiowa.edu/files/2016_09_02_iowanow.jpg)
Iowa Now - Friday, September 2, 2016
As Hancher Auditorium prepares to celebrate its grand opening, Executive Director Chuck Swanson reflects on the past eight years
![Artwork by SLMS students inside new Hancher Auditorium Artwork by SLMS students inside new Hancher Auditorium](https://hancher.uiowa.edu/sites/hancher.uiowa.edu/files/2016_09_01_pilottribune.jpg)
Storm Lake Pilot Tribune - Thursday, September 1, 2016
The University of Iowa's new state-of-the-art performance space also houses one of the most remarkable pieces of public art anywhere in Iowa.
Long before Hancher Auditorium opened, members of the Art in State Buildings Program met to discuss the types of pieces that made sense for such a grand building.
![Hancher: Videos and More Hancher: Videos and More](https://hancher.uiowa.edu/sites/hancher.uiowa.edu/files/2016_09_09_inspire.jpg)
Inspire - Tuesday, August 9, 2016
The University of Iowa's new Hancher Auditorium was officially dedicated Friday, Sept. 9. The celebration program, hosted by Lynette Marshall, president and chief executive officer of the UI Foundation, included performances by Iowa City natives Rinde Eckert and Conor Hanick, and the Community Mass Choir under the direction of Barbara Haack, and remarks from the honorable Terry Branstad, governor of the state of Iowa; UI President Bruce Harreld; Beth Freeman, regional director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency; Hancher Auditorium benefactors Dick and Mary Jo Stanley; UI alumnus and former Hancher performer Julius Carter; and Chuck Swanson, executive director of Hancher.
Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to attend all University of Iowa sponsored events. If you are a person with a disability who requires a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in this program, please contact Hancher in advance at (319) 335-1158.