in 1978, the building was named to the national register of historic places, along with others on the brenau campus. three years later, it was closed for renovations, reopening in the spring of 1984. “it’s difficult to imagine brenau university without pearce auditorium. in fact, it is hard to imagine gainesville without pearce auditorium,” said john w. jacobs, jr., chairman of the brenau board of trustees, as he began the centennial observance of the dedication of pearce auditorium.