Schwab Auditorium is one of Penn State’s oldest and most iconic venues. Opened in 1903, the performance space hosts speakers, concerts, and student performances.
While attending the 1902 commencement of the Pennsylvania State College, Charles M. Schwab, chairman of the Bethlehem Steel Corporation and a trustee of the college, noted the need for a larger space for ceremonies and chapel services. At the time, students were required to attend weekly chapel.
Although President George Atherton wanted to renovate the existing chapel in Old Main, Schwab suggested that an auditorium be built nearby and agreed to fund the project. Months later, construction on the $155,000 auditorium began.
The Atherton administration wanted the auditorium completed quickly so it could be used for the 1903 commencement. With the onset of winter, the unfinished building was enclosed in a wooden shell with heat and light to ensure the work could continue without interruption. When concerns over the use of non-union labor arose, the bricklayers went on strike and were swiftly replaced by non-union masons to maintain the schedule.
Schwab Auditorium was designed by Philadelphia architect Edward P. Hazlehurst in the Beaux-Arts style and features a blend of Classical Revival elements such as Roman, Italian Renaissance, and Italian Baroque.
The building had a foundation of New England granite, a superstructure of gray brick with terracotta trimmings, and a copper roof. The exterior was designed to look like a single story, with buff-colored brick, and grilled iron doors. The auditorium had a seating capacity of 1,500 with galleries on three sides.
With only a few finishing touches remaining, Schwab Auditorium was dedicated on June 16, 1903, in time for the graduating class to walk across the newly built stage. It was the school’s first building funded by a private donation and named after the sole benefactors: Schwab and his wife, Emma.
President Atherton died on July 24, 1906, and was buried next to Schwab in recognition of his 24-year tenure leading the college. At the time, it was a quieter location on the campus and the road next to the building did not exist. A granite wall and meditation courtyard were added to Atherton’s gravesite in 1982.
By July 1927, the school was outgrowing Schwab Auditorium as the main chapel. President Ralph Hetzel recommended that weekday chapel services be discontinued, as the building could only seat about one-third of the student body at a time. Compulsory chapel officially ended in 1930 as Sunday services were made optional.
Over the years, many prominent speakers and performers have taken the auditorium’s stage. In 1921, Schwab himself spoke and endorsed plans for the college to be elevated to university status. In the 1950s, Eleanor Roosevelt visited twice: first in 1953 to promote broader public support for the United Nations, and again in 1959 to discuss her recent trip to Russia. In 1962, Vice President Lyndon Johnson spoke at a College of Business Administration event.
Schwab Auditorium has been the longtime home of the Thespians and Glee Club, two of Penn State’s oldest organizations. For many years, the auditorium was the site of Penn State’s Artist Series, which was created in 1957. The series host a variety of national acts and performers.
Schwab Auditorium has undergone several renovations throughout its history. In 1947, the auditorium’s interior was painted, and its capacity was reduced to 1,163 seats. Ten years later, the seats were padded and capacity was further reduced slightly.
In 1978, the auditorium underwent its most extensive renovations, including new stage lighting and sound as well as new heating and cooling systems. A new stage curtain, traverse drapes, velvet overdrapes, a projection booth, and a ticket booth were installed, and a basement room was added to the south side. Renovations in the summer of 1999 added new carpeting, drapery, seats, and interior paint. Seating was reduced to its current capacity of 946.
Peter Williams
Sources:
“Atherton’s Grave on Penn State’s Campus.” Penn State University, July 19, 2010. www.psu.edu/news/story/athertons-grave-penn-states-campus (Accessed February 15, 2026).
Bezilla, Michael. Penn State: An Illustrated History. University Park: Pennsylvania State University Press, 1985.
“Business Depression Discussed by Schwab.” The State Collegian, October 18, 1921, p. 1.
“Mrs. FDR Requests Continued UN Aid.” The State Collegian, October 10, 1953, p. 1.
The Pennsylvania State College. Plan of Seats & Gallery of Auditorium. 1903.
Walters, Walter H. On the Occasion of the 90th Anniversary Season Concert of the Penn State Glee Club. Rededication of Schwab Auditorium 1903–1978.
First Published: February 16, 2026