As much as has changed over the last 100 years, Jefferson Center stays steadfast. It was, is, and always will be a home to education, the arts, and community engagement — a place where lives are inspired and enriched.
During its 100th year we will celebrate the building's many gifts to our community, and the way it has authored countless stories and moments within and around its walls in service to the people of Roanoke.
For 100 years, the Jefferson Center building has provided thousands with the benefits of education. From its early beginnings as a high school to becoming a community space, music education center, and performance venue today, countless have crossed the building's threshold to learn, grow, and become inspired.
Before opening its doors in 1924, the building was designed with community in mind. The vision for the school auditorium was not only for students to gather. It was built larger to also house community events. And 100 years later, the commitment to community still stands with a robust “Jefferson Center Presents” performance schedule, space for community events and arts events, educational outreach programming, and office space for businesses and non-profits.
Designed and built in the Tudor-Revival Style, the building is a vivid landmark and visual reminder of our storied history as a community and a link to our past. The strong and steadfast presence of this building continues to be an anchor for the development of Downtown West.
In its lifetime, Jefferson Center's function has evolved from high school to a world-class performance venue and community space. And despite these changes and interior improvements over time, there is one thing the building has done and always will do: enrich lives.
Because the city had no civic center at the time of the building’s design in the early 1920s, the auditorium was built larger than needed for a high school with the intent of using it for community events and concerts.
From 1924 to 1974, the building was known as Jefferson High School. During that time, the building hosted more than 19,000 students in its halls, classrooms, cafeteria, and auditorium and was the backdrop and stage for countless memories and stories.
By 1989, renovations led by the City and Jefferson Center Foundation repurposed classrooms into offices, modernized systems, and stabilized the building. The vision of an appointed citizen committee tasked with determining the future of the iconic building remains today: to create a place for local business, government, and nonprofit organizations to collaborate and enrich the lives of community residents.
Now maintained by an organization with the same name, Jefferson Center has held fast to the original intent and vision of the building. Known for being home to world-class music and performing arts events, community gatherings, educational programming and even business and community advocacy with the 18 for- and non-profit businesses that operate within its walls, Jefferson Center breathes life into Roanoke every day.
The Jefferson Center building has stood the test of time for the past 100 years. And despite the ways in which the world has evolved around it, it remains steadfast in its long-standing commitment to community enrichment. Even the architecture gives weight to this commitment and the history of how the building has demonstrated this to everyone who walks through its doors.
If you value the ways this building continues to serve our community, please consider all the ways you can support Jefferson Center and its mission.
Box Office: 540.345.2550
Office: 540.343.2624
Toll Free: 866.345.2550
541 Luck Avenue, Suite 221
Roanoke, VA 24016
