SEU Landmark | The Grand Auditorium

Zhang Naiyan, President of National Central University, started to concentrate on planning and construction. The Grand Auditorium was the most important building in the planning.

At first, the school contracted with Architect Li Zongkan to design the layout of the Grand Auditorium. In September 1929, President Zhang Naiyan went to Shanghai himself to invite Designer T. W. Barrow of Palmer & Turner Group to re-draw the layout. In the end of December, the layout of the Grand Auditorium was accomplished.

Thanks to the funding from President Zhang Naiyan, the Grand Auditorium broke ground. However, still due to shortage of financial support after wards, its construction was temporarily suspended.

November 1932

Thanks to President Zhu Jiahua, who applied for the funding, and Prof. Lu Yujun, who oversaw the construction, the construction of the Grand Auditorium was finally accomplished in November 1932.

On May 5, 1931, the 1st National Party Congress was convened in the Grand Auditorium.

In July 1931, the Republic of China's first higher examination was held, and the Grand Auditorium served as one of the exam venues, as described in Central Daily News, "it was divided into two parts and located in the National Central University, one in the Grand Auditorium and the other in the Gymnasium". At the entrance to the exam venue, a colorful archway marked with the Chinese characters “Make full use of one's talents” was set up. The first day of the examination was arranged specifically for general administrative staff with more than 1,300 applicants involved.

In October 1937, the war in Shanghai was intense and the wounded were continuously transferred from the front to Nanjing. After the National Central University moved westward to Chongqing, the vacant campus was used by the Red Cross Society of China as a hospital for wounded soldiers. The Grand Auditorium and the library etc. functioned as wards and surgery rooms.

In the summer of 1946, the National Central University moved back to Nanjing to give lessons and the Grand Auditorium was restored to its origin function. In Janurary 1947, the National Central University together with other universities in Nanjing broke out a demonstration against American military brutality, after which the authorities of the Nationalist Party locked down the campus and monitored the trace of teachers and students.

In the eve of May 20 Movement, over 16 universities in Beijing, Shanghai, and Hangzhou etc. organized a meeting at the Grand Auditorium, which witnessed the students' movement with the slogan “Anti-hunger, Anti-civil war, and Anti-persecution”.

In 1965, Prof. Yang Tingbao presided over the project of adding two wings to the Grand Auditorium. The newly-added three-storey classrooms on both sides of the Grand Auditorium made it more spectacular and outstanding.

In April 1994, Yu Jizhong, an alumnus of SEU, donated USD 1.07 million to repair the Grand Auditorium with the repairment completed on April 7, 1995. SEU held a grand celebration and invited Mr. Yu to cut the ribbon.

The repairment has injected new vitality to the Grand Auditorium, which has thus accompanied SEUers years after years as well as witnessed many highlights of SEU.

On May 24, 1995, the 10th Congress of Party Representatives of SEU was convened at the Grand Auditorium.

On June 22, 1999, the 11th Congress of Party Representatives of SEU was convened at the Grand Auditorium.

In 2000, SEU held the meeting of merger of four universities at the Grand Auditorium.

On May 31, 2002, the 100th anniversary celebration of SEU took place at the Grand Auditorium.

On June 2, 2012, the 110th anniversary celebration of SEU took place at the Grand Auditorium. 

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Ending

Over the ninety years,

The Grand Auditorium has accompanied the youth of countless SEUers.

In the days to come,

It will witness the growth and become the unique memories of more SEUers.