Grand Junction High School’s new auditorium is already needing modifications after only a few months of being up and running. The changes coming will be at no cost to GJHS.
The balcony, which hasn’t even been used yet, is getting a new glass wall to correct an initial flaw in design which obstructed the view of the stage from the upper-level seats. The auditorium opened along with the new $144.5 million school building in August.
“We didn’t appreciate or like the view from the balcony once it was constructed earlier this year because some of the stage was obstructed. So they’re rebuilding it to where there isn’t any visual obstruction using a glass wall instead of a solid one,” said GJHS principal Jory Sorensen.
The balcony construction has caused a number of school events to be moved. The orchestra concert on Dec. 10 was held in the gym instead and the Dec. 17 band concert was held at the closed Fruita Middle School building.
“The redesign and construction is not costing the school anything and is scheduled to be done by the end of January 2025,” said Sorensen.
While many things in the new school are bigger, the auditorium seating was reduced from 1,522 to 1,462. The facility features upgraded amenities such as new sound systems, stage lights, work spaces, and of course the balcony seating.
“It’s pretty frustrating to have to rehearse in here with the construction happening. Like, we’ll be performing monologues and there’ll just be a bunch of drilling noises in the background. I’m excited for it to finally be finished,” said GJHS freshman Avery Keeney.
