Clarence S. "Hec" Edmundson Pavilion

Now in its 69th year of service, multi-purpose Clarence S. "Hec" Edmundson Pavilion continues to serve the University in a variety of ways.

The University of Washington made improvements in Hec Edmundson Pavilion again two years ago, spending three quarters of a million dollars on a number of renovations, including new paint and carpeting and the addition of championship banners. The latest renovation also included the inclusion of a large curtain in the east end and will lead to a longer-range, more complete remodeling.

Previously, the University last made renovations in the summer of 1991 when it replaced the entire lower level seating area with all new seats. The lower level of the Pavilion features 20-inch wide seats with backs and armrests. The chair seating, new bleachers in the endzone and a new configuration at floor level contribute to improved seating for Husky fans.

Built in 1927, the Pavilion was dedicated on December 27 of that year. In the inaugural game, Washington's men's basketball team defeated Illinois, 34-23. Originally known as the University of Washington Pavilion, the building was re-dedicated to the Huskies' longtime basketball and track coach, Clarence S. "Hec" Edmundson, on January 16, 1948. The original cost of the Pavilion was more than $600,000, the money raised on a bond issue and an appropriation from the state legislature.

Over the years, the Pavilion has hosted various events, including an NBA Playoff game between the Seattle SuperSonics and the Dallas Mavericks in 1987. In addition, the Pavilion has played host to numerous concerts, campus events, trade shows as well as three NCAA men's basketball championship games

The Pavilion provides playing facilities for the gymnastics, women's volleyball, men's and women's basketball and men's and women's track and field teams. It also houses the main training and equipment rooms, practice facilities for gymnastics, softball and baseball and locker rooms for all of the University's men's athletic teams.

The two-story Pavilion Addition joins Hec Edmundson Pavilion on the north side and has a seating capacity of 800. The lower level of the facility has a complete shower and locker equipment storage and issue area, a training room and locker room for the Husky women's teams.

For the fourth straight season, Washington will hold all if its regular-season gymnatics meets in Hec Edmundson Pavilion.

Hec Edmundson Pavilion has been a monument to durability on the Washington campus. The massive brick structure, with its signature Husky gargoyles on the west facade, is in its seventh decade of service. The 1997-98 season marks the 70th year Washington basketball teams will compete in the building. The streak has allowed the Husky men's program to compile more wins in the building than any other team in the nation has won in its current arena.

Over the years Hec Edmundson Pavilion evolved into much more than a basketball facility. The highly-successful Husky volleyball teams have also called the Pavilion home. Husky indoor track meets are held during the winter months. Numerous Washington teams use the facility for off-season conditioning. Hec Edmundson also houses the majority of Washington's locker rooms, visiting team locker rooms, the men's equipment room, the athletic training offices, the gymnastics workout room, the facilities management offices, the video services office, and the Husky Hall of Fame.

Pregame and postgame football functions, summer sport camps, graduation ceremonies, community book sales and craft shows, coaching clinics, NBA playoff games, the NCAA basketball championships and even Hollywood movies have all found a home in Hec Ed over the years.

The renovation of Hec Edmundson Pavilion will give Washington a much-needed new competition and practice facility for several of its athletic teams. Plans call for the seating capacity to be increased from the current 7,900 total to a configuration of about 10,000. Gone will be the support pillars that have obstructed views from the upper level seats since the building's inception. The east end of the building will be converted into a full-time practice court for the basketball and volleyball programs.

When the renovation of Hec Edmundson Pavilion is complete, a new two-story Hall of Fame room will proudly display Washington's outstanding athletic tradition. The expanded area will offer much more public access to displays, trophies and historical information in addition to serving as a pregame and postgame reception area.

While the renovation of the main arena will be stunning, the improvements to the support areas will greatly benefit Washington's overall program. The Hec Edmundson Pavilion renovation will dramatically increase the space of the sports medicine center facilities, equipment rooms, meeting rooms, media accommodations and Husky locker rooms for many of the program's teams, including football and men's and women's basketball.

The design of Hec Edmundson Pavilion began in the summer of 1997 and is scheduled to be completed by the spring of 1999. The University is prepared to commence with construction shortly thereafter upon completion of the fundraising efforts. Plans call for the men's and women's basketball, volleyball and gymnastics teams to miss one season in Hec Edmundson Pavilion. Alternative sites will be used for Husky home contests during construction.

Here are the top basketball attendance figures in Hec Edmundson Pavilion since the 1985-86 season when the facility was reconfigured to its present capacity of 7,900:

Date                Opponent             Team     Attendance
March 17, 1990      DePaul               Women's       8,170
January 21, 1996    Washington State     Men's         7,900
January 6, 1996     UCLA                 Men's         7,900       
March 11, 1995      Stanford             Women's       7,900
February 25, 1995   Washington State     Men's         7,900
March 19, 1988      New Mexico State     Women's       7,882
January 3, 1989     Duke                 Men's         7,870
February 1, 1986    Arizona              Men's         7,851
March 6, 1997       UCLA                 Men's         7,836
February 10, 1997   Cincinnati           Men's         7,787
March 8, 1986       California           Men's         7,756
February 10, 1990   Stanford             Women's       7,704
February 14, 1986   Oregon State         Men's         7,702
Januuary 27, 1996   California           Men's         7,537
January 11, 1997    Oregon               Men's         7,523
January 29, 1994    Washington State     Men's         7,445
February 15, 1997   Washington State     Men's         7,412
January 11, 1992    Washington State     Men's         7,401
March 3, 1990       UCLA                 Women's       7,392
January 11, 1991    Stanford             Women's       7,383
March 3, 1996       Arizona              Men's         7,381
February 12, 1994   Southern California  Women's       7,349
January 9, 1986     UCLA                 Men's         7,335