Octagon Centre
Encyclopedia
Music venue
A music venue is any location used for a concert or musical performance. Music venues range in size and location, from an outdoor bandshell or bandstand or a concert hall to an indoor sports stadium. Typically, different types of venues host different genres of music...
at the University of Sheffield
University of Sheffield
The University of Sheffield is a research university based in the city of Sheffield in South Yorkshire, England. It is one of the original 'red brick' universities and is a member of the Russell Group of leading research intensive universities...
. Situated in the Western Bank
Western bank
Western bank is a title used by various financial institutions. It may refer to:* Westernbank, a bank in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico.* Canadian Western Bank , a bank located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada....
campus, it is joined by a skyway
Skyway
In an urban setting, a skyway, catwalk, sky bridge, or skywalk is a type of pedway consisting of an enclosed or covered bridge between two buildings. This protects pedestrians from the weather. These skyways are usually owned by businesses, and are therefore not public spaces...
to University House
University House, University of Sheffield
University House is a large 6 floor building in the centre of the University of Sheffield's campus.- Current usage :The building is currently used to house part of the student's union on floors 1 to 4 and some administrative departments of the university...
and comprises an eight-sided auditorium
Auditorium
An auditorium is a room built to enable an audience to hear and watch performances at venues such as theatres. For movie theaters, the number of auditoriums is expressed as the number of screens.- Etymology :...
(seating up to 1,250, standing/fire capacity 1,600), offices, meeting rooms, and a lounge with bar and patio.
As a University building, The Octagon is used for a variety of purposes, including examinations, lectures and graduation ceremonies
Graduation
Graduation is the action of receiving or conferring an academic degree or the ceremony that is sometimes associated, where students become Graduates. Before the graduation, candidates are referred to as Graduands. The date of graduation is often called degree day. The graduation itself is also...
.
The venue also hosts regular music concerts by well-known acts such as Supergrass
Supergrass
Supergrass was an English alternative rock band from Oxford. The band consisted of brothers Gaz and Rob Coombes , Mick Quinn and Danny Goffey ....
and DJ Shadow
DJ Shadow
Joshua Paul Davis better known as DJ Shadow is an American music producer, DJ and songwriter. He is considered a prominent figure in the development of instrumental hip hop and first gained notice with the release of his highly acclaimed debut album Endtroducing....., which was constructed...
and is transformed into a nightclub
Nightclub
A nightclub is an entertainment venue which usually operates late into the night...
by the Technical Services Committee every Friday (during term-time) for the Space club night (previously Frouk (2003-2007) and Loveshack before that); it has hosted the Valve Sound System on several occasions under the promotion of The Tuesday Club. The Supernaturals
The Supernaturals
The Supernaturals were a five-piece guitar based pop band from Glasgow, Scotland. Fronted by singer-songwriter James McColl, they signed to Parlophone in 1996, and had a string of singles which were taken from their three albums and four EPs. Other members included Mark Guthrie, Derek McManus and...
gave their song Sheffield Song its name because it was first played at a concert here.
University Balls
Ball (dance)
A ball is a formal dance. The word 'ball' is derived from the Latin word "ballare", meaning 'to dance'; the term also derived into "bailar", which is the Spanish and Portuguese word for dance . In Catalan it is the same word, 'ball', for the dance event.Attendees wear evening attire, which is...
, an annual fashion show
Fashion show
A fashion show is an event put on by a fashion designer to showcase his or her upcoming line of clothing during Fashion Week. Fashion shows debut every season, particularly the Spring/Summer and Fall/Winter seasons. This is where the latest fashion trends are made...
, a biennial 24 Hour Musical, and various other Student Union
University of Sheffield Union of Students
-Aims:Its mission is to act in the interests of all our members and has a vision to be the outstanding student-led organisation in the UK. It was also voted best Higher Education Students' Union in the country at the first ever NUS awards ceremony in 2008....
and Student Societies events also take place. The venue is also used for corporate exhibitions and conferences on a regular basis when free from its academic duties.