Al Lawson Center

The Alfred Lawson Jr. Multipurpose Center and Teaching Gymnasium (known as the Al Lawson Center) is a 9,639-seat multi-purpose arena in Tallahassee, Florida on the Campus of Florida A&M University.[2] It was built in 2009 and it is home to the Florida A&M men's and women's basketball teams and women's volleyball team. The arena replaced Jake Gaither Gymnasium, which is a 3,365-seat multi-purpose arena. The Al Lawson Center is the second biggest arena in Tallahassee, behind the 12,500-seat Donald L. Tucker Center.[3] The official ribbon cutting ceremony was April 8, 2009.[4]

Alfred Lawson Jr. Multipurpose Center and Teaching Gymnasium
"Al Lawson Center"
Location1800 Wahnish Way
Tallahassee, Florida 32310
Coordinates30.424318°N 84.290473°W / 30.424318; -84.290473
OwnerFlorida A&M University
OperatorFlorida A&M University
Capacity9,639
8,470 (basketball)
SurfaceHardwood
Construction
Broke groundJuly 27, 2007
OpenedApril 4, 2009 (basketball)
Construction cost$40 Million
($47.7 million in 2019 dollars[1])
ArchitectWilliams-Russell & Johnson, Inc
Akin & Associates Architects, Inc.
Project managerTurner Construction
General contractorF.L. Crane & Sons
Tenants
Florida A&M Rattlers athletics

The center is named for Congressman Al Lawson, himself a former FAMU basketball player, who was instrumental in getting the funding for this center and other buildings on the campus of Florida A&M University during his tenure in the Florida Legislature.[5]

The Al Lawson Center is the 3rd largest arena in the Florida Panhandle, and is often used as an alternative to the much larger and older Donald L. Tucker Center. It was the Tallahassee stop of actress/singer/native Floridian Ariana Grande's Honeymoon Tour in 2015.

See also

References

  1. Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved January 1, 2020.
  2. "FAMU's New Gym, New era in FAMU Basketball".
  3. "About Us". Donald L. Tucker Civic Center.
  4. "Ribbon Cutting Ceremony". Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University.
  5. "FAMU Holds Renaming Ceremonies for Campus Buildings and Road". WCTV CBS Tallahassee.
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