One of Hogs' first homes now home to arts

The new Jim and Joyce Faulkner Performing Arts Center on Friday, Sept. 18, 2015, before a ribbon cutting ceremony on the campus in Fayetteville. Jim and Joyce Faulkner made a $6 million donation to the university in 2012 specifically toward renovating and remodeling the Field House into a performing arts center.

— One of the first homes of Arkansas basketball is now a multi-million-dollar performing arts center.

The University of Arkansas opened the Faulkner Performing Arts Center on Friday. The center is named for Jim and Joyce Faulkner who gave $6 million of the $22.5 million to renovate the facility, which will host up to 200 mostly ensemble and vocal performances each year.

The building was built as the Razorbacks' basketball arena in 1937 and served as their home until Barnhill Arena opened in 1955.

Arkansas won its first 16 games in the 3,500-seat arena, including all 11 games played in the inaugural season.

The Field House, as the building was known, was constructed for $128,999 as part of a loan from the Public Works Administration.

According to records, the Razorbacks' 18-season record at the Field House was 145-32, including four undefeated home campaigns.

Arkansas won six Southwest Conference championships while playing in the building and advanced to two Final Fours.

After Barnhill Arena was opened, the Field House was used as a male recreational facility. In years since it has housed a museum and a research center for planetary sciences.

The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in September 1992.

CORRECTION: A previous version of this story incorrectly attributed Arkansas' 1955-56 and 1956-57 records to the Field House. The Razorbacks played those seasons at Barnhill Arena, which was called Razorback Fieldhouse at the time.