For nearly five decades, people took a seat to hear everything from pianists to politicians in Eppley Auditorium on the campus of Morningside College.
After so many years and uses, about 1,400 faded turquoise colored seats started to show their age, screaming 1960s décor.
But not anymore.
Following a much-needed facelift, the performance space boasts of a sleek new palette in shades of brown, beige and burgundy, plus plenty of other upgrades.
“This is the first major renovation since 1966,” said Rick Wollman, spokesman for Morningside College.
The $1 million project included interior improvements to the auditorium and its lobby as well as exterior work to the Eppley Fine Arts Building and surrounding area.
Inside, all of the seats have been replaced. New wall coverings, curtains and carpets have been installed, and the lighting and sound systems have been upgraded.
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Workers refurbished the lobby, put in new landscaping around the building and made parking lot improvements.
The renovation was funded through donations to Morningside College’s “Vision 2020: Transformation II” campaign.
Since the facility opened in 1966, thousands of people have attended events in the Eppley Auditorium, which is named after the late Eugene Eppley, of Omaha, Neb.
A donation from the hotel magnate helped spur the initial fundraising campaign for the facility in the 1960s.
At one point, Eppley operated three hotels in Sioux City and, in 1927, he commissioned Grant Wood to paint a mural in the historical Martin Hotel, at 408 Pierce St.
“The Corn Room” was lost under layers of wallpaper and rediscovered in 1979. Today, the mural is a part of the Sioux City Art Center’s permanent collection.
Eppley established a philanthropic foundation, which contributed $325,000 to the Morningside College fine arts complex.
In the past 47 years, numerous notable figures have lectured from the auditorium’s stage, including Polish President and Nobel Peace Prize recipient Lech Walesa, New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman and filmmaker Ken Burns.
Musicians who have performed there include Grammy winner Wynton Marsalis, violinist Isaac Stern and the folk-singing trio Peter, Paul and Mary.
Before the Orpheum Theatre reopened in 2001, Eppley was home to the Sioux City Symphony.
“Over the years, a lot of people have memories of attending events in the auditorium,” Wollman said.
The building’s most recent addition, the Helen Levitt Art Gallery, remained untouched throughout the renovation.
Built in 1998, the gallery is home to the Levitt art collection, which includes work by internationally renowned artists such as Robert Rauschenberg, Louise Nevelson, Joan Miro and David Hockney.
It is open and free to the public.
The fine arts and music facility will continue to serve as the primary performance site for Morningside’s music department. It is the setting for student recitals, faculty performances, ensemble concerts, and choral and instrumental festivals.
Heath Weber, associate dean of performing arts at Morningside College, hopes the updated space will provide new opportunities for students, performers and community members alike.
The Betty Ling Tsang Fines Arts Series, which is designed to bring free, quality music and theatre productions to the Sioux City area, will run year-round thanks to the massive overhaul at the Eppley Fine Arts Building.
Previously, the outdoor performance series spanned from June to August.
With the new facility, four events have been added, starting with Chanticleer. The Grammy Award-winning a cappella group will be featured in a grand re-opening concert in the auditorium on Oct. 1.
“When you have a beautiful space, you want to share that,” Weber said.
