Gallagher-Bluedorn Performing Arts Center (1997)

However, postwar inflation and a need for other facilities stalled plans for the new auditorium. Latham Hall, an arts and industries building, was completed in 1949; Price Laboratory School was completed in 1957; and the Student Health Center was completed in 1961. Performances like the Lecture-Concert Series, later known as the Artists Series, continued using the Auditorium Building, with its small stage and poor seating, acoustics and parking. College dramatic productions and other campus shows also remained in Lang Hall. 

Calls for a new auditorium increased in the late 1960s. In a 1967 letter to the College Eye, Professor Robert Claus cited the upcoming American Bicentennial and UNI Centennial in 1976. He asked, "How about a Century Fund to help build an auditorium for the performing arts?" The College Eye editorial board continued this idea later in the month. The board noted the auditorium had been inadequate to handle crowds interested in hearing two recent speakers. It also noted the 1967-1969 Regents capital improvement plans included a physical education building, but not an auditorium. Posters appeared on campus bulletin boards urging all students to attend the Matriculation Convocation and to demand a seat. By doing this, students hoped to impress upon school administrators the need for better facilities.

In February 1968, the Ad Hoc Committee on Auditoria Needs presented recommendations including a coliseum seating 10,000, auditorium seating 2,000 and theater seating 800. The committee was chaired by Professor Stanley Wood and included Harold Bernhard (religious activities), Jean Bontz (women's physical education), James Coffin (music), Howard Jones (Artists Series), John Ketter (student union), Myron Russell (music), Edward Thorne (speech), James Witham (men's physical education) and Robert Porter (architect). In April 1968, Sue Mulder (’68) announced her class would attempt to raise $3,000 as a gift toward building a new auditorium. In February 1969, the Class of 1969 set a goal of $5,000 as its gift for the same purpose. By April, they had raised $6,684.

The recommendations drawn up by the Ad Hoc Committee in February 1968 were presented to the faculty in October 1969. The cost of the three facilities would be $9 million: $4 million for the coliseum, $3 million for the auditorium, and $2 million for the theater. The UNI Foundation would contribute $5 million to the overall cost. The other $4 million would come from contributions rather than appropriated state funds. The committee hoped construction on at least one of the facilities would begin in 1976, the UNI centennial year. The coliseum would be used for athletics, mass meetings, conventions, commencements and speakers. The auditorium would feature a large stage for professional touring attractions, separate rehearsal space, workshops for scenery and costume construction, professional motion picture projection facilities, large screen projection and TV outlet circuits. The theater would include a main stage and two studio stages, rehearsal rooms, workshops, dressing rooms and a public lobby. 

In spring 1970, the UNI Foundation retained Cumerford Company of Kansas City, Missouri, to conduct a fundraising feasibility study before undertaking the auditorium complex as an official Foundation project. Despite discouraging reports from their fundraising consultant, in December 1972, the UNI Foundation launched a $10 million fund drive, known as the Centennial Capital Campaign. It was the university's first major fund drive and was organized into two phases. Phase I would be a coliseum for athletic events, while Phase II would be an auditorium for the performing arts. The two phases would cost a total of about $8.5 million. The remainder of the $10 million raised could be devoted to other needs, such as a museum, observatory, special equipment or endowed faculty chairs. Foundation President Harry Slife stated Phase I (the coliseum) would have priority over Phase II because fundraising for athletics facilities had a stronger potential for success than fundraising for fine arts facilities. Private donations would still provide a large part of the funding, but officials noted student fees would also be used. T. Wayne Davis (’43), president of Latta's (later University Book and Supply), was named National Centennial Fund Drive Chairman.

Some faculty and students disagreed with the decision to prioritize athletics over fine arts as well as the allocation of student funds to the project. There were also concerns about fine arts donations being used for athletics. Regardless, the UNI-Dome was completed in 1975 at a cost of $7.5 million, financed by private donations and student fees. Strayer-Wood Theatre was completed in 1978, with state-appropriated funds. However, there was little movement on the proposed fine arts facility of Phase II of the Centennial Capital Campaign. 

In the early 1980s, there were fleeting references in UNI publications to the need for a new auditorium. In a letter to the Northern Iowan, student Jim Maltby wondered if UNI was large enough to support such a facility. In 1983, Director of Alumni Services and Development Lee Miller noted the Board of Directors of the Waterloo/Cedar Falls Symphony Orchestra had recommended building an auditorium with a seating capacity of 2,200-2,500 for $8-16 million. Miller also noted the location of the facility and source of funding were still uncertain. Richard Frevert (’78 and ’83), coordinator of operations for the Waterloo/Cedar Falls Symphony Orchestra in 1984, worked with Howard Jones and others to make plans more concrete. In 1986, a Blue Ribbon Committee from the arts, businesses and UNI concluded such a facility should be built on campus.