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Design Plans

Although Royston emphasized making minimal changes to the existing terrain, extensive grading and rock clearing had to be completed in order to accommodate the terraced seating, paths, and electrical circuitry. Royston's original plan also included a restroom and dressing room design, which were to be built using materials that would blend the structures into the landscape. These structures were not built until 1973, and they differed from Royston's design slightly in location.
7a9bc93aef56d4264c3ffef3a8f60d62.jpgGrading Sections
12aa1fb37ad4a3a177cc8a698db32a6d.jpgElectrical Plan
d6775893a05beb50e2c92b4632de74cf.jpgStaking Plan
a1322cf248ac8e2018c30b90c16e9b24.jpgRestroom Design
Drawings by Royston, Hanamoto, Beck, and Mayes, 1967. Courtesy of UCSC Physical Planning and Construction.

Amphitheater Construction

Construction began in April 1966, before Royston had been commissioned to design the site, in order to create a temporary space for Chancellor McHenry's inauguration in May. Construction resumed in August 1967 and was completed by May 1968.
e1d5a108ea924e24634d84be02c87386.jpgApril 8, 1966.
aaf44ecb94fb27b5402b1ca027621469.jpgOctober 5, 1966.
32be2b6110c83901175747b84a88b301.jpgAugust 6, 1967.
cbf6eab14899c88f8565cc4029297313.jpgJanuary 1, 1968.
Photographs courtesy of UCSC Physical Planning and Construction.

The Completed Amphitheater

From every angle, the Amphitheater immersed the visitor in marble and redwood.
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Photographs of the Amphitheater by UCSC Photography Services, 1972. Courtesy of UCSC Special Collections.

Closure of the Amphitheater

Over the years, natural processes once again began to reclaim the space. The unstable walls of the quarry became hazardous due to erosion, and the redwood railroad ties started to deteriorate due to dry rot. Grasses and shrubs began to cover the quarry walls, and a redwood grew within the rock. Additionally, the design fell out of compliance with contemporary building codes—the aisle steps made it difficult to navigate out of the Amphitheater in the case of emergency, and Amphitheater was not easily accessible to all visitors. In 2006, the University closed the Amphitheater due to safety concerns. Even in its deteriorated state, the Amphitheater's fusion of natural and architectural elements retained its aesthetic impact.
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Photographs by Jim MacKenzie, 2016. These images may not be downloaded or reproduced without permission from the photographer.