Giving Performing Arts it’s Groove Back
Solvay High School was originally constructed in 1960 with a central auditorium prominently located off the main entrance lobby. During a renovation in the 1980s, an enlarged Library/Media Center was added on the second-floor level, taking up much of the upper volume at the back of the Auditorium. This addition made the large space feel cramped, but more importantly, it altered the original volume to the point that it interfered with the acoustical performance of the space. The design team worked with the district to reimagine the Media Center in order to restore the Auditorium to ideal acoustical performance and bring both spaces into the 21st century.
Media Center
After determining that the Library/Media Center could be reduced in size and redesigned to utilize a smaller footprint and more efficient layout for students, the first step in the renovation was to remove the upper floor slab from its obstructive position inside the Auditorium footprint.
Several underutilized storage areas and a conference room off the back side of the Auditorium were able to be reconfigured and transformed into the new Media Center, located directly off the central corridor on the second floor. The main goal of the space was to offer flexible spaces for students with a variety of options for individual or small group study, as well as a classroom space for more formalized lessons and presentations.
Auditorium
With the Media Center relocated, the auditorium was stripped down to its masonry shell and then rebuilt to create a proper acoustical soundscape.
The walls are clad in warm maple panels that absorb or diffuse sound where needed and add a sense of coziness to the large space. Maple wood was also used to refinish the stage apron, while the main stage received a theatre-grade black panel flooring system.
New lighting and sound systems were installed throughout, and the existing rigging received maintenance and upgrades. The orchestra pit floor slab was raised by 1 foot to create a more accessible slope and minimized the height of the unusually tall stage front.
The sound booth was relocated from its former position at the back of the seating area to the newly created second floor balcony, allowing additional seating to be added in the floor area that it once occupied.
The original seating was removed, and 1,007 new seats, upholstered in Solvay blue, were laid out to accommodate wider aisles for the movement of the school’s baby grand piano and set pieces, as well as provide additional handicap accessible areas to improve the function of the space for all. The culmination was a reinvigorated and welcoming auditorium for the students and community members of Solvay to enjoy for years to come.
