Lafayette Schools Auditorium
Lafayette, New York | February 10, 2023
Introduction
A school auditorium that services both junior high and senior high populations should be designed for performance—and that doesn’t refer only to what happens on the auditorium stage. The physical space must be designed to perform well under nearly constant and demanding use of students, faculty, and anyone who utilizes the environment.
That was certainly the approach the design team from Ashley McGraw Architects took when leading the renovation of the auditorium of LaFayette Junior/Senior High School in LaFayette, NY. The team prioritized the technical performance of all elements of the auditorium’s design—including the all-important surfacing materials that also had to meet the right standards for aesthetics and style.
The Story
The LaFayette renovation project, which began in October 2015, was comprised of several elements: demolition of the old finishes, new framing, specification of updated finishes and wall treatments, and the installation of new house and theatrical lighting, as well as a sound system for the facility.
From the start of the project, the design team knew that an environment created for students in junior and senior high school required long- and hard-wearing material specifications in order to endure the wear-and-tear that was sure to come as soon as the space was open for use. In addition, ease of cleaning was high on the list of priorities. On the aesthetics front, members of the team sought to create a look that fit the grander scale of the space and provided a style that would last for many years for the school.
