Flashback Fotos: Alexander Memorial Coliseum construction

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Flashback Photos: Alexander Memorial Coliseum construction

More than 60 years ago, Georgia Tech's basketball arena -- Alexander Memorial Coliseum -- made its debut at the corner of 10th and Fowler in downtown Atlanta.

Nearly 60 years ago today, Georgia Tech's basketball arena -- the Alexander Memorial Coliseum -- first opened its doors. Its Nov. 30, 1956, debut was built as a tribute to the late William Alexander, Tech's third athletics director and football coach. (AJC File)

Debris surrounds the construction of the dome supports for Alexander Memorial Coliseum. The roofing structure was built so there are no support pillars to obstruct the view from the stands. (Georgia Tech Archives)

The dome -- 270 feet in diameter at the base and 75 feet high at its center -- was built by erecting a center pole with a circular girder on it and then setting 32 steel ribs supports to the curved dome structure. The completed framework required more than 650 tons of steel and covers an area of 71,500 square feet. (Georgia Tech Archives)

Seating capacity when it opened in 1956 was 6,996. Since its renovations in 1986, 1995 and 2011 the renamed McCamish Pavilion can now hold 9,191. (Georgia Tech Archives)

The arena floor is configured in a large circle. With the renovation in 1989, seats were added to areas on the floor level that were previously empty, allowing students and fans to sit closer to the court. (Georgia Tech Archives)

The Coliseum was completed in September 1956 -- for about $1.6 million -- in time for the start of the college basketball season. (AJC File)

Georgia Tech basketball coach John "Whack" Hyder runs a practice on the floor of Alexander Memorial Coliseum in October 1956. Hyder was entering his sixth season as the Jackets' head coach. (AJC File)

The 1956 Georgia Tech team went 18-8 (with a third place finish in the Southeastern Conference). The team featured the likes of guards Bobby Kimmel and Terry Randall along with Tech Hall of Fame center Lennie Cohen, who is third all-time in school history in career rebounds per game (10.3). (AJC File)

Through various renovations, Alexander Memorial Coliseum -- now named McCamish Pavilion -- has remained a fixture in the Atlanta landscape. "The Thrillerdome" as it was once called has served as an Olympics venue and hosted the NBA's Atlanta Hawks and state high school championships. (Georgia Tech Archives)

The dome of the old Alexander Memorial Coliseum is shown here on the outside of the new McCamish Pavilion.

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Nearly 60 years ago today, Georgia Tech's basketball arena -- the Alexander Memorial Coliseum -- first opened its doors. Its Nov. 30, 1956, debut was built as a tribute to the late William Alexander, Tech's third athletics director and football coach. (AJC File)

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