Lyons Middle School Auditorium article
Vocal music and drama teacher Allison Zema, left, leads the choir during a rehearsal for the December concert at the new Lyons Middle/Senior Auditorium on Monday. (Matthew Jonas/Staff Photographer)
Source: Boulder Daily Camera
Published: 12-6-2021
Author: Amy Bounds
Lyons Middle/Senior High students got their first chance Monday to practice in the school’s new auditorium as they prepare for holiday concerts. Kasey Knapp, a senior who first performed on the school’s original stage in the cafeteria in fifth grade, said her initial reaction to the new space was “wow.” She’s in the school’s band, choir and drama programs and will play the lead in the spring musical. “I just got in there and jumped up and down,” she said. “I’ve been hearing about it since sixth grade. It’s way better than I ever imagined it would be. Performing on that stage, especially my senior year performances, is going to be so much fun.”
Principal Andrea Smith said school leaders wanted an auditorium that met not just the student’s needs, but also those of the community. The new building will be the town’s only large auditorium space. “We have so many fine arts in our community,” she said. “There are lots of smaller programs that want to use our auditorium.”
Through bond premiums, interest on bond money and unused contingency funds on other projects, the district was able to increase the auditorium’s original $4.2 million budget to about $9.2 million. The school surveyed the community before starting the design process in September 2019 with Alan Ford Architects. Construction, led by Golden Triangle Construction, started in October 2020. The stage spans about 2,700 square feet and is “sprung” for dance, while the whole auditorium addition is about 16,000 square feet. The new space will seat 418 people and includes a front row of removable seats to accommodate a pit for musicians. “It’s Lyons, so we didn’t want it to have a cavernous feel,” Smith said. “We wanted something with a warm, intimate feel. It’s just beautiful.”
The auditorium has its own entrance and a ticket booth, as well as a professional level control booth, catwalk and theatrical system. All the lights, including the spotlights, are LEDs, allowing for easy color changes. The project included money for power tools to give students more options for set building. “Educationally, we wanted it to be a state-of-the-art, innovative space,” she said. Windows give a view of Lyons, while power shades create a partial or full blackout. The aggregate for the ground concrete floors is from Cemex, while the sandstone used on the walls is from Blue Mountain Stone, both local to Lyons. The primary wood used, from the stage to the seats, is a warm maple. The addition also includes a sandstone plaza that can be used as an outdoor lunch space and outdoor classroom.
Sophomore Jack Johann, who plays in the band and jazz band, said he was impressed with all the additional space, including room in the wings for instruments to allow for easy changes from the smaller jazz band to the larger full band during performances.
“It’s amazing,” he said. “I’m really excited to play there.”
