After the 50th anniversary of the Brickyard last spring, the NC State Alumni Association and NCSU Libraries have partnered to host an event celebrating the history of the university landmark with activities, speakers and more.
According to Sylvia Adock, editor of NC State magazine and member of the program staff of the NC State Alumni Association, the celebration will take place on Sept. 22. Adock wrote a piece on the Brickyard’s 50th anniversary for the alumni magazine, which is where the idea for the event stemmed from.
“It’s such a big part of campus,” Adock said. “If you went to school in the last 50 years, you’ve walked on the Brickyard. The campus is so big, and most places only one segment of the students get to experience. The engineering majors have their side of campus, and so on. We look for things that are a touchpoint that all of the alumni will share.”
Adock said that the Brickyard has served as an iconic place on NC State’s campus for students to gather for celebrations, protests and more.
“It has an interesting history for a gathering point,” Adock said. “Not only for celebrations but protests; the turbulence of the 1960s and 1970s and protests for the Vietnam War. We thought it would be a good story for our spring cover. And the idea of the event grew out of that. The outreach department and I agreed that out of the past few published stories, this would create the best event.”
Marian Frigola, the director of Programming Planning and Outreach of NCSU Libraries, said she is excited to partner with the Alumni Association to host the event.
“The Brickyard is at our front door, it seemed like natural fit,” Frigola said. “We always want to bring alumni back to D.H. Hill as there has been so many changes and new opportunities.”
In terms of the library’s involvement, Frigola said that there will also be activities going on for the event inside and many people are expected to be in attendance.
“There will be a petting zoo, family friendly games and virtual reality activities as well,” Frigola said. “We are anticipating several hundred people.”
Frigola also said that the Brickyard has impacted the lives of NC State students, faculty, staff and alumni.
“It’s a wonderful time to celebrate the past and the present,” Frigola said. “People have really fond memories here. The brickwork is also really beautiful, it really is the ideal gathering place. It has such an impact on the lives of NC State students.”
According to Adock, attendees of the event will be able to participate in family-friendly activities and listen to performances and speakers. NC State a capella group Grains of Time and Mr. and Ms. Wuf will also be in attendance.
“We are hoping to have Dick Bell, who graduated in the class of 1950, and is the designer of the Brickyard,” Adock said. “As well as a professor in the College of Design and graduate of the class of 1985, Daniel Howe, to speak about the design of the Brickyard, its significance and how and why it works.”
Along with activities, the event will have demonstrations and interactive exhibits.
“We are planning some other side events, for example one to explain the science behind the Wolf Ears statue in the Brickyard,” Adock said. “We will have Doug Morton, the associate vice chancellor of facilities to speak about the Brickyard’s future in terms of what is coming next.”
Registration for the event is required and can be found on the Alumni Association’s website here. Tickets are $5 for Alumni Association members and $10 for non-members. Children 12 and under can attend for free. Howling Cow ice cream and cake will be provided for guests.
