Address: 3201 N Orange Ave, Sarasota, FL 34234
Work: KENPAT completed the interior framing, interior finishes, ceilings, wood wall paneling and architectural specialties
General Contractor: Core Construction Company
Architect: Shenkel Shultz Architects
Dates: January, 2023 – April, 2024
Booker HS Auditorium
Situation
The high school auditorium renovation project involved significant expansion and changes to the high school’s four-story performing arts center.
The first floor of the building received 12,505 square feet of new space and renovations to 23,711 square feet; the second floor received a 5,645-square-foot expansion and 2,615 square feet of renovations; the third floor received additions totaling 3,409 square feet and renovations totaling 3,546 square feet; and the fourth floor received 2,987 square feet of renovations.
The general contractor, Core Construction Company, selected KENPAT to install interior framing, interior finishes, ceilings, wood wall paneling and architectural specialties for the building.
Task
KENPAT was selected to provide interior framing, interior finishes, ceilings, wood wall paneling and architectural specialties.
Action
Since this was a renovation, part of General Contractor’s work involved teardown and replacement. As KENPAT came in next to provide interior framing and drywall, field modifications were more prevalent than usual because entire wall sections had to be anchored through old brick walls which required substantial extra work to install supports through brick. As work progressed, KENPAT along with the architect, became the primary point of contact for the solutions on ceilings and structural issues.
Several areas proved particularly challenging. For example, the floating wood ceilings in the lobby had to be attached to decking that could not support the system alone, so KENPAT had to build a structural framing system above the ceiling to support it. This work was made more complex by the fact that the primary trunk line of the HVAC system ran parallel above the wood ceiling, requiring a lot of trapeze details. There were also engineering challenges on the ceiling because of the exterior “sawtooth” framing design at the entrance.
Another challenging area was the supply and installation of wood paneling in both theater rooms. Custom products had to be ordered months in advance prior to the construction of walls and then made to fit upon arrival. KENPAT then went on to install the acoustical and/or wood ceilings throughout the renovation.
All of this required substantial design coordination. Despite budget limitations and design complexities, KENPAT completed its assignments on time and on budget.
Result
The Booker High School Visual and Performing Arts Theatre now features a new main lobby, new seating, a new studio theatre, and various new classrooms in addition to a fully modernized interior.
“The design preserves the existing theater as a historically significant place to educate students and provides an artistic destination for performers, students, and the community,” said Ekta Desai, AIA, Partner and Design Lead at Schenkel Shultz.
“Simultaneously, we have elevated the space’s production, technology, acoustics, and function, creating an environment that reflects the school’s longstanding reputation for excellence.”