Dozens of Hancher patrons, members of the media, and other curious spectators gathered Monday—with a mixture of nostalgia for the past and excitement for the future—to watch the original Hancher Auditorium coming down.

It was a big day in the life of the new—and the old—Hancher facilities as construction crews initiated the project's single-largest concrete pour and a wrecking ball began dismantling the original Hancher auditorium.

See the images below to catch a glimpse of the process, or to watch a video, visit here.

To read related stories, see Work on new, old Hancher facilities begins in earnest Monday and Iconic and user friendly: For new Hancher building, form will follow function.