Specter Center

Arlen Specter US Squash Center
	Specter Center (before renovations), May 2010
Address	3205 Lancaster Avenue
Location	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Public transit	34th and Market (SEPTA)
	32nd St. and Lancaster Ave. Philadelphia Armory
	U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Coordinates	39°57′25″N 75°11′25″W / 39.95694°N 75.19028°W
Built	1916
Built by	Fidelity Construction Co.
Architect	Johnson, Philip H.
Architectural style	Classical Revival
MPS	Pennsylvania National Guard Armories MPS
NRHP reference No.	91001703
Added to NRHP	November 14, 1991
Operator	US Squash
Capacity	1,500
Acreage	1.5 acres (0.61 ha)
Construction
Opened	1916
Renovated	2019–2021
Reopened	October 2, 2021; (renovations)
Construction cost	$150,000 (original); $40 million (renovations)
Tenants
	Drexel Dragons (NCAA) (1969–1975)

The Arlen Specter US Squash Center (formerly known as the 32nd St. and Lancaster Ave. Philadelphia Armory and the Drexel Armory), is a squash venue and historic former National Guard armory located in the University City neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Located on the campus of Drexel University, the venue was originally built in 1916 and operated as an armory and multi-purpose venue for nearly a century. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1991.^[1]

Drexel University leased parts of the armory beginning in 2008, using the venue as a multipurpose facility. In 2019, the armory closed to begin construction to renovate the venue into a squash facility. Renovations were completed in 2021, and the new Specter Center currently serves as the headquarters for US Squash.

History

32nd Street Armory

The original 32nd St. and Lancaster Ave. Armory was built in 1916 as a three-story, 21,346 square-foot facility. Designed by architect Philip H. Johnson, the building features a Classical Revival design. Beginning in the 1920s, the armory housed the 103rd Engineering Battalion of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard, a historic unit tracing back to the American Revolution. A museum displaying a collection of artifacts from the unit was located inside the armory.^[2]

The armory also served as a multi-purpose event venue. In 1967, it hosted three regional games of that year's NCAA College Division basketball tournament, and served as the home arena of the Drexel Dragons men's basketball team from 1969 to 1975. The armory also served as a concert venue, hosting acts such as Nirvana, The Notorious B.I.G., Run-DMC, and Snoop Dogg.

In 2008, Drexel University leased parts of the armory with plans to renovate it into a full-time basketball arena and event space for the university.^[3] However, feasibility studies found renovations to be too expensive, and instead the university focused on renovating their current arena, the Daskalakis Athletic Center.

Specter Center

In 2018, US Squash announced an agreement with Drexel University to convert the armory into the largest squash facility in the United States.^[4] Renovations were completed in 2021, and the facility reopened as the Arlen Specter US Squash Center. The center was named after former United States Senator Arlen Specter, who was an avid squash player during his tenure in Congress. The Specter Center features 16 singles courts, two doubles courts, and two showcase courts.^[5]

Concerts

Drexel homecoming dance concert

The annual homecoming dance concert was held at the former armory during the last week of January each year from 2009 to 2014. Following the 2014 concert, the event was replaced by the Drexel Fall Fest. Headlining performances included:

2014: DJ Carnage, GRiZ, ScHoolboy Q, Trinidad James
2013: Porter Robinson, Flosstradamus, Waka Flocka Flame
2012: Snoop Dogg, Wynter Gordon, DJ Serafin
2011:
2010: Sean Paul, Jay Sean, DJ Serafin, Vita Chambers, East Hundred, Oh Snap!
2009: G-Eazy, Chiddy Bang, Mike Jones, DJ Jazzy Jeff

Drexel Spring Jam

The annual Spring Jam concert, which is organized by the Drexel CAB, is generally held during the Spring semester. The Spring Jam was performed at the former armory until it was relocated to Lot F, an open parking area on Drexel's campus between Main Building and 31st Street, beginning in 2011. The headlining acts of the Spring Jam concerts performed at the armory included:

Other concerts

January 27, 2017: Lil Uzi Vert, Mija, Valentino Khan
February 18, 2012: Alesso, LA Riots
May 5, 2010: Dave Hause
June 5, 2008: M.I.A., Holy Fuck
September 29, 1996: Goldfinger
December 10, 1994: Run–DMC, Method Man, Wu-Tang Clan, Warren G, Naughty by Nature, Dogg Pound, Craig Mack, Notorious B.I.G., Kid Capri^[8]
December 7, 1994: Toad the Wet Sprocket, Milla Jovovich
November 11, 1993: Digable Planets, Gumbo
November 8, 1993: Nirvana, The Breeders, Half Japanese^[9]
October 14, 1993: The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Ruder Than You, Love Seed Mama Jump, Strange as Angels, Mr. Greengenes, Public Service, Tribes
October 1, 1993: Cypress Hill, House of Pain, Funkdoobiest, The Whooliganz^[10]

References

^ ^a ^b "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
^ "Hidden Treasures-Armory Collection". drexel.edu. 2014-05-09. Retrieved 2024-07-17.
^ "Drexel and National Guard to Celebrate 50-Year Agreement to Use Historic Philadelphia Armory". Drexel University. 14 April 2008. Retrieved 23 June 2014.
^ Media, Squash (2018-09-14). "US Squash to Establish National Center at 32nd Street Armory in Philadelphia | US Squash". Retrieved 2024-07-17.
^ "U.S. Squash finds a new home in Philly with plans to create a public school league". WHYY. Retrieved 2024-07-17.
^ "Spring Jam recruits NERD" (PDF). Drexel CAB. Retrieved 23 June 2014.^{[permanent dead link‍]}
^ "33rd Street Armory Philadelphia Concert Setlists". Setlist.fm. Retrieved 23 June 2014.
^ Rea, Steven (8 December 1994). "Armory Rap Concert Gets Role In Film". Philly.com. Archived from the original on December 21, 2015. Retrieved 23 June 2014.
^ "Nirvana Setlist at The Armory, Philadelphia, PA, USA". setlist.fm. Retrieved 23 June 2014.
^ Campbell, Catherine (1 October 1993). "EFC to bands: You're in the Armory now" (PDF). The Triangle. p. 18. Retrieved 14 August 2018.

[nris-1] "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.

[2] "Hidden Treasures-Armory Collection". drexel.edu. 2014-05-09. Retrieved 2024-07-17.

[3] "Drexel and National Guard to Celebrate 50-Year Agreement to Use Historic Philadelphia Armory". Drexel University. 14 April 2008. Retrieved 23 June 2014.

[4] Media, Squash (2018-09-14). "US Squash to Establish National Center at 32nd Street Armory in Philadelphia | US Squash". Retrieved 2024-07-17.

[5] "U.S. Squash finds a new home in Philly with plans to create a public school league". WHYY. Retrieved 2024-07-17.

[6] "Spring Jam recruits NERD" (PDF). Drexel CAB. Retrieved 23 June 2014.^{[permanent dead link‍]}

[7] "33rd Street Armory Philadelphia Concert Setlists". Setlist.fm. Retrieved 23 June 2014.

[8] Rea, Steven (8 December 1994). "Armory Rap Concert Gets Role In Film". Philly.com. Archived from the original on December 21, 2015. Retrieved 23 June 2014.

[9] "Nirvana Setlist at The Armory, Philadelphia, PA, USA". setlist.fm. Retrieved 23 June 2014.

[10] Campbell, Catherine (1 October 1993). "EFC to bands: You're in the Armory now" (PDF). The Triangle. p. 18. Retrieved 14 August 2018.

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