The Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp. plans to begin renovation work next summer on the Clarence E. Robbins Auditorium at Columbus East High School.
Monies for the $3 million project will come from $13 million in general obligation bonds approved by the school corporation in January, Superintendent Jim Roberts said.
The auditorium is slated to receive new seats, lighting and an improved sound system, while the facility will also be made more accessible to individuals with disabilities, Roberts said. Improvements for the auditorium were identified after an internal facilities review was made by CSO Architects, he said.
BCSC school board members on Monday authorized the district to seek bids for the auditorium project and a separate project for a planned soccer complex at the Columbus AirPark that will be shared by Columbus East and Columbus North high schools.
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The Robbins auditorium, which has about 900 seats, was constructed in 1971 and has had few upgrades since that time, according to the district.
As part of the project, new seats will be installed — although about 60 fewer because of design changes, said Brett Boezeman, BCSC director of operations.
“Part of the concern is that there’s too much of a slope, so that will be corrected,” Boezeman said.
Individuals who use a wheelchair or a walker have difficulties getting around the theater due to its design, said Kevin Welsh, Columbus East auditorium director.
“The ramps are just so steep so they can’t begin to use them,” Welsh said. “It really is an improvement that is long, long overdue.”
The most recent improvements were made backstage about seven years ago with updated dressing rooms and an elevator, Welsh said.
The next round of improvements will be beneficial for current and future students who will be able to utilize lighting technology for planned performances, he said.
After a Dec. 5, 2016 fire, BCSC made improvements to the Judson Erne Auditorium at Columbus North High School last year that included new seating, LED lights and the installation of seven heating and air conditioning handlers.
An overhead light blew and ignited plastic on the fixture at the Erne auditorium, resulting in extensive smoke and soot damage, including the loss of about 35 seats that caught fire.
Nearly $1 million was invested in the North auditorium, not counting $1.6 million covered by insurance to clean and restore the facility.
Construction on Columbus East auditorium is expected to begin in early June with work slated to wrap up by next December, according to the district.
There will be schedule implications during the construction period.
The school is currently looking at where it will move band and choir concerts, in addition to its fall play, Welsh said.
“We’re starting that conversation now,” Welsh said.
Possibilities include the auditoriums at Columbus North and Southside Elementary School.
Some events on the Columbus North auditorium schedule were moved to Robbins Auditorium during its construction period.
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The Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp. could approve a bid for the auditorium renovation project at Columbus East High School in April. Work is slated to begin in June and will continue through December, according to the district.
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