IU Cinema
Ground was broken ceremonially on Oct. 17, 2009 for the renovation of the University Theater building, which has been converted to the new IU Cinema facility. Along with the cinema, the renovation will add classroom, rehearsal and performance space for the IU Bloomington Department of Theatre and Drama.
A cyclist rides a path between the IU Cinema and a sculpture of Hoagy Carmichael, who was born in Bloomington and earned a bachelor's degree and a law degree from IU.
The Carmichael sculpture sits just outside the entrance to the IU Cinema building on the Fine Arts Plaza.
Indiana University staff members tour the stage of the new IU Cinema.
A large room was built inside the cinema to protect the Benton murals during the building's restoration. The room enabled a protective space for the murals themselves during renovation.
IU President Michael A. McRobbie presided over the Oct. 17 ceremony.
(From left to right) Karen Hanson, executive vice president and provost at IU Bloomington; Greg Waller, professor and chair of the IU Bloomington Department of Communication and Culture; and Jonathan Michaelsen, professor and chair of the IU Bloomington Department of Theatre and Drama took part in the ceremonial ground breaking.
As the groundbreaking was underway, crews were hard at work on the renovation inside the cinema building.
The new IU Cinema soon will open its doors to the public.
New seats, restored Benton Murals and the newest entertainment available for enjoying film will greet IU Cinema patrons.
The IU Cinema possibly will be the best-equipped university cinema in the United States. One of about ten THX® Certified university cinemas in the country, IU Cinema is destined to become the leading center for the scholarly study of film in the Midwest.
