JOHN LEGEND THEATRE > SPRINGFIELD, OHIO

Springfield native and 12-time Grammy Award winner John Legend donated $500,000 from his Show Me Campaign to support the $2 million renovation of the auditorium at the former South High School. Kapp Construction had already completed renovations at this historic building, now home to the Global Impact STEM Academy, the Greater Springfield CareerConnectED Center and Clark State Community College food science and aquaculture labs.

The main floor and the balcony of the auditorium feature 680 seats, with state-of-the-art sound and lighting systems. Acoustic engineers fine-tuned the lighting and sound systems after installation. New heating and air conditioning systems were also installed. Despite the modern feel inside the former high school, now known as “The Dome-The Center for Innovation”, the newly-renovated auditorium features a classic, old-style theater feel, lending an historical atmosphere to a space nestled in the heart of a 107-year-old building.

The auditorium gives students a venue to showcase their work to a larger audience, whether it be video production, spoken words, vocal or drama. The lighting sets in the John Legend Auditorium are motorized, allowing students to gain valuable experience in a supervised environment. “The theater will host a wide range of student productions and events for local organizations thatwill benefit everyone in the community,” notes Ed Leventhal, President of the Springfield Board of Education.