Greenfield-Central High School New Auditorium
HEAPY served as the lead engineer for a project to relocate and build a new 1,400-seat auditorium at Greenfield-Central High School, located in Hancock County, Indiana. The existing auditorium was outdated and was repurposed to serve as a theater and additional classroom space for large group instruction. The new high-performance facility is now a great opportunity to foster the Hancock County community’s love for the arts and will help accommodate outside users of the auditorium, such as community theater groups, bands, and dance troupes who will be able to rent the space out for performances.
Theater-Focused Mechanical and Electrical Design
Displacement ventilation was used throughout the auditorium, providing both increased occupant comfort and increased ventilation effectiveness. Air ventilation noise was virtually eliminated, due to the presence of supply air introduced at floor level with a low velocity, creating ideal conditions for a performance space. More than 1,200 linear feet of supply duct were buried under the floor, freeing up overhead space for theatrical lighting and catwalks, which are essential for a high-end, modern performance space.
The electrical design included exterior color changing LED light fixtures to illuminate the exterior sign, as well as linear fixtures recessed in the walls of the main lobby to provide area lighting. Both the exterior and linear fixtures were integrated into the theatrical lighting controls system, providing streamlined functionality for the facilities and technical staff. Six overlapping, triangle-shaped light fixtures were also integrated in the main lobby to provide visual interest and elevate the interior design of the space for event attendees.
High-Performance Technology Design
The technology design included structured network cabling systems to support wireless coverage, video surveillance, and a video broadcasting system. The high-performance audio-visual system will be used during live performances, school assemblies, band, and choral events.
This system was designed using a modern digital networked approach and features two fully functioning mixing locations with versatile inputs to allow for a modular approach for outside users. This ultimately allows presenters to integrate into the space and allows access to upload video feeds to the LED screen wall, which fills the entire stage to create a truly immersive and seamless live performance experience. The space features three line arrays with supplemental surround sound speakers to cover the entirety of the audience area, as well as supplementary ceiling speakers in the lobby and corridors for complete sound coverage inside the facility.
