Renovations Underway at the Esteemed Booker High School Visual Performing Arts Center
Currently under construction, the improvements to the Visual Performing Arts (VPA) Center breathes new life into the theater and enhances the performative and technical quality of the facility, reflecting its reputation as a premier program in the state of Florida. The theater is rich in history and a cultural ‘gem’ of the Sarasota community, which inspired the design concept.
Borrowing from the performative qualities of a gemstone, the lobby expansion utilizes a transparent, two-story faceted curtainwall that highlights the original interior shape of the auditorium. The design preserves the existing theater as a historically significant place to educate students and provides an artistic destination for performers, students and the community. Simultaneously, we have elevated the space’s production, technology, acoustics, and function, creating an environment that reflects the school’s longstanding reputation for excellence.
Scheduled to be complete in summer 2023, the public lobby will be expanded, providing flexibility as a pre-function gathering area, event space, and gallery to showcase student artwork. The renovation encompasses a complete overhaul of the theater space, including a new balcony and tiered orchestra level, as well as comfort, sightline, and acoustical enhancements that improve the overall experience for the audience. The project also includes an expansion to house a new black box theater, green room, costume shop, and classrooms.