Ohio High School Auditorium Aims for Fall 2020 Debut

By Lisa Kopochinski

HILLSBORO, Ohio—Hillsboro City Schools has contracted with Woolpert to provide full design services for its $6 million high school auditorium at Hillsboro High School, located approximately 60 miles east of Cincinnati.

The new 23,000-square-foot auditorium will seat 800 and include flexible space for changing rooms and/or locker rooms. The school has an enrollment of approximately 750 students.

Woolpert—a firm with numerous locations across the U.S. that offers architecture, engineering and geospatial (AEG) services—is the architect on this project.

Woolpert Project Manager Todd Ford—who is also a 2002 Hillsboro graduate—said the design of the auditorium will mesh with the existing school and include technology and amenities specific to the school’s needs.

“There will be a 40-inch-high stage, which creates optimal viewing from all seats, LED lighting and acoustical design to ensure those on stage are properly seen and heard by the crowd. Hillsboro will be one of the few schools in the area that can hold its entire school population in its auditorium, and we want to ensure they are served appropriately and effectively.”

The main entrance for the auditorium will be through the high school building, which will support safety and security for students and staff. The parking lot will be reconfigured to allow for this school expansion, but retain the same amount of parking spaces.

Woolpert has performed a facility master plan, and Ford has performed multiple design projects at the high school.

He said Woolpert’s acquisition of Waller, Todd & Sadler Architects this past January has deepened and broadened Woolpert’s educational design capabilities.

“Waller, Todd & Sadler’s experience with K-12 and higher education facilities is nationally known and highly respected. They know the ins and outs of high school auditoriums from ideal row breaks to ADA requirements to subsurface drainage to the pros and cons of orchestra pits. Their expertise is invaluable and will be well utilized for this and future projects.”

The general contractor for this project will be secured in early September. Construction is scheduled to begin this fall with a completion date slated for fall 2020.