For the past six decades, Walker Auditorium has served as a gathering place for community events such as All-School meetings, guest speaker presentations, Hotchkiss Dramatic Association (HDA) productions, dance performances, and film screenings. The auditorium is being renovated this year as part of the Class of 2019 and 2020 Senior Parents Gift.
The school has planned to renovate the auditorium for some time. Mr. John Bryant, director of facilities, and Mr. Brian Hanecak, project manager, noted, “Walker was built in the 1960’s, so its appearance, a lot of the technology, infrastructure, lighting, and sound is dated.”
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, Walker has not been used this year. Mr. Bryant, Mr. Hanecak, and their teams have used the down time to finalize renovation plans and remove all 600 seats. Mr. Bryant said, “They’re probably 50% of the way through the demolition. Now they’re setting up the scaffolding so workers can walk on these high platforms to remove the ceilings, the rest of the finishes, and get the rest of the demolition done.”
While the renovation will update existing infrastructure in Walker, features will also be added to enhance audience members’ and performers’ experiences. Anticipated changes include extending the stage further into the audience; adding wing stages that can be used as seating or as part of the stage; making the first several rows of seats removable; improving ventilation, sound, and acoustics; and revamping the skybox, technical catwalks, and backstage areas, including the green rooms and shop. These renovations, Mr. Bryant thinks, will make the space more “revitalized, more comfortable, more flexible, and more usable for the community.” He said, “It’s going to feel better, but it’s also going to work better.”
Mr. Derek Brashears, director of theatre, is particularly excited about the project’s ability to improve community life. He said, “In a normal year, there are two rooms on this campus that every student [enters], no matter what – the Dining Hall and Walker. I think it has a pretty big impact on student experience.”
Renovations are still ongoing, and the school plans to complete this project by January 2022.