On the first day of school, BHS students were finally able to sit for an assembly in the newly-renovated auditorium.

“The old auditorium had a lot of bad seats from which students were unable to see the stage,” Assistant Principal Ryan Patti said. “It also had a flat stage and a very outdated design.”

Patti explained that the new auditorium was designed for maximum visibility.

According to Beachwood City Schools’ Director of Operations and Technology Ken Veon, the  renovated auditorium has 536 fixed seats and 150 “loose” seats. The project was designed by the architecture firm of Westlake, Reed, Leskosky, and the construction was managed by Scaparotti Consulting Group, which oversaw the work of six sub-contractors.

Veon further explained that the auditorium has a variety of new high-tech features including three projection screens, video cameras connected to the TV studio and to the community room in the event that overflow seating is needed, an enhanced sound system and an improved lighting board.

BHS has been without an auditorium since the fall of 2012. Auditorium renovation was not originally budgeted as part of the high school construction project, but after the installation of a sprinkler system, the auditorium was in disrepair and could not be used.

The auditorium renovation is estimated to have cost $4,681,591 based on the total amount of purchase orders issued, according to Beachwood City School District Treasurer Michele Mills.

“[The project] was paid out of the district’s permanent improvement (p/i) fund,” Mills wrote in an email. “The taxpayers passed this levy in Nov. 1996. The levy currently generates approximately $1.3M annually. Any unspent funds remain in the permanent improvement fund, and some years we collect more than we spend.”

“Also the district received a settlement from a taxpayer a couple of years ago, Mills continued. “$1M of that settlement was earmarked for the p/i fund as we knew this project was forthcoming.

In addition, Mills explained, the district’s general fund loaned $2.5M to the p/i fund to help pay for the project, which will be paid back over time.

Patti is confident that students will enjoy events held in the new auditorium. For the last several years, assemblies have been held in the gym, which has poor acoustics.

“When students were in the gym, they were unable to understand the speakers,” he said. “The improved acoustics in the new auditorium will allow students to understand the speakers.”

Patti added that it will now be easier to plan multiple events and activities at the high school.

“Scheduling will be more flexible than it was in the past,” he said.

According to Patti, the auditorium will be used for assemblies and musical performances as well as White & Gold. Counselor Meghann Sullivan and Choir Director Darlene Haight are starting a show choir, which could also use the auditorium.