After spending more than a decade silent, the Quarry Amphitheater is ready to rock again.
The iconic venue—which has been a stage for legends such as César Chávez, Angela Davis, Buckminster Fuller, Joan Baez and more—has been restored and reopened.
“It is with great pride that the Dean of Students Office stewards the Quarry Amphitheater into the next phase of its history and the history of the campus,” said interim Dean of Students Lucy Rojas. “We plan to exercise great care in maintaining the Quarry Amphitheater for its bright future.”
The campus community is invited to celebrate its re-opening at noon on Thursday, Oct. 19 (RSVP), and the local community is invited to see it as part of Founders Celebration from 2–4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 21.
The Quarry restoration is one of the many successes of the Campaign for UC Santa Cruz, which raised more than $335 million to move the campus forward.
Despite the Quarry Amphitheater's central role in campus life since its opening in 1967, the venue fell into disrepair. As a result, events were discontinued beginning n 2006 leaving a void in the heart of campus.
The $8 million project was largely supported by the Student Fee Advisory Committee (SFAC), which recommended that $6.4 million in student fee reserves be allocated to move the effort forward. Alumni, faculty, staff, students, and donors also pitched in to get the project completed.
"It is important, especially with the 10 college system, to have one space where students can come together,” said Suini Torres, chair of SFAC. “With limited spaces for large-scale events and no central meeting space, it can be difficult to engage with many students at UC Santa Cruz.
“However, the Quarry Amphitheater can promote unity and boost the campus climate. Especially during a time where it feels as if we are divided, this is a space where students can come together to celebrate and engage in their community here at UCSC."
The venue will be managed by the Dean of Students Office, which is hoping to create a vibrant gathering place for students to produce programs and events, as well as gather informally with friends. The Dean of Students Office will also produce concerts and other programs for students.
The campus broke ground on the restoration in November 2016 and crews have been hard at work bringing the Quarry back to its former glory and up to modern standards.
Carved from a former working quarry amidst redwoods and rocky outcroppings, the amphitheater dramatically showcases the deep connection between the campus, its history, and the natural landscape. Designed in the early ’60s by modernist landscape architect Robert Royston, its asymmetrical terraces and sunny park-like character highlight the surroundings.
While some features are upgraded, one has returned to its original state—“the rock,” an outcropping that dramatically pierces the stage.
The project focused on restoration and new enhancements. It provided improvements to accessibility, building code, life safety, and basic operational upgrades to support performances, events and casual daily use of the venue.
Additionally, seating has been expanded from 1,636 to 2,000; stairs, ramps, handrails, lighting, and overall access is improved and provisions made for portable infrastructure to support events.
