About the Anderson Center

Our Mission

The mission of the Anderson Center for the Performing Arts is to enhance the local community and support Binghamton University’s educational vision through the presentation of multiculturally significant national and international performances, and varied regional and state events.

Our Facilities

The Anderson Center is home to the 1170 seat Osterhout Concert Theater, the 408 seat Chamber Hall and the 558 seat Watters Theater. Click here to learn more.

About Us

The Anderson Center for the Performing Arts provides Binghamton University students and members of the surrounding community with an opportunity to experience a wide array of cultural programming at an affordable cost. Since raising the curtain for the first time in 1985, the multi-theater complex has welcomed nearly two million visitors to campus for concerts, theatrical productions, lectures, dance recitals, student showcases and more. Notable guests in recent years include Diana Ross, Tony Bennett, Postmodern Jukebox, humorist David Sedaris and many, many others.

Our Namesake

The Anderson Center for the Performing Arts is named after Floyd E. Anderson. Born in Bainbridge, NY, Anderson attended Amherst College and earned a law degree in 1914 from Syracuse University Law School. Soon after, he began practicing law in Binghamton and married Edna Mattice. The couple had one child, Warren (who would one day become lieutenant governor of New York and a New York state senator). 

With the establishment of his law practice in Binghamton, Anderson became active in the political and civic affairs of the community. He served as president of the Broome County Bar Association and as a member of the Executive Committee of the New York State Bar Association. In addition, he was a member of the Broome County Republican Committee, the New York State Republican Committee and the Broome County War Council, as well as chair of the Broome County Planning Board. 

Anderson held several local public offices as well, including assistant district attorney of Broome County, and police justice and village attorney for the Village of Port Dickinson. He was elected to the New York State Assembly from the First District of Broome County in 1940 and then to the New York State Senate in 1942. He served as a senator until 1951, when Gov. Thomas E. Dewey appointed him justice of the New York Supreme Court. He was elected to a full term as justice in 1952 and held that post until his retirement in 1961.

Active in numerous organizations such as St. Mark’s Lodge 1001, F&AM and Phi Delta Phi, Anderson was a strong supporter of many civic enterprises within the community. He not only endorsed the establishment of the State University of New York, but also played an instrumental role in the early days of the University by authoring legislation that enabled the state to take over Triple Cities College and develop it as Harpur College, the liberal arts and sciences school that would one day grow into Binghamton University.

Floyd E. Anderson died in 1976, after seeing the small college he supported develop into one of the best public universities in the nation.

On November 9, 1984, the Council of the State University of New York at Binghamton unanimously adopted a resolution naming the addition to the fine arts complex after the late Judge Anderson in recognition of his contributions to the development of the University.