Gammage Auditorium    

 

One might find it hard to believe that beloved Gammage Auditorium and Performance Center, on the  campus of Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright for Baghdad, Iraq.

 

Flush with oil money, Iraq’s young King Faisal sought to modernize Bagdad. He invited several distinguished Western architects to submit plans. 

 

Frank Lloyd Wright had been fascinated with Persia. “When I was a youngster The Arabian Nights were my favorite stories and Baghdad was the center of them,” Wright said, when explaining why Baghdad was so important to him. 

 

With his building incorporating elements from Iraq’s history and culture, he won the contract to build an opera house. 

 

Wright, after visiting Baghdad in 1957, convinced the King to change the site from the city center to an island in the middle of the Tigris.

 

For Wright, age 90, the plan was one of a handful of grandiose, outsize designs produced in the later part of his career. 

 

Construction was scheduled to begin the King was killed and the monarchy collapsed 

 

The new government, at first, indicated it would follow through on Wright’s plan, but were uneasy with Wright’s grandiose plans and huge costs. 

 

Now back in his studio at Taliesin West in Scottsdale, Frank Lloyd Wright had a design for an opulent opera house but no place to build it. 

 

That all changed on December 5, 1958 when Arizona State College became Arizona State University. 

 

On that date, Frank’s long time friend, Grady Gammage, now was the president of a full fledged university. Arizona State College had just become Arizona State University.

 

A few days later, Grady Gammage and his wife were guests at a Frank Lloyd Wright-hosted dinner. 

 

After dinner, Mr. Wright banged on the table and said: 'I feel the need to say something.

 

“You are missing one thing that would tie a university together.”   “That is an auditorium or a concert hall. Dr. Gammage, if you would go with me right now, I'll show you.“ 

 

It was around midnight when Frank Lloyd Wright and Grady Gammage drove to Tempe and stopped at the curve on Mill Avenue and Apache Blvd. 

 

Wright said, “This is the place. You must tear down all the buildings (referring to the World War II portable structures occupying the site) and I will build the building for you.” 

 

“I already have plans drawn (referring to the failed royal family Crescent Opera House project in Baghdad) and they won't cost you a cent.” 

 

Wright's words were inspiring. 

 

Unfortunately, Wright didn't live to see his proposal move forward. He died two months before Gammage presented Wright’s plan for the structure to the Board of Regents in June 1959. 

 

Tragically, Grady Gammage also passed away only 4 months before the Regents gave preliminary approval to the concept. 

 

Thus, the opulent opera house, destined for an island in Baghdad Iraq, found its home in Tempe, Arizona on the campus of Arizona State University.