For a junior and senior high school in LaFayette, NY, the design team from Ashley McGraw Architects, located in Syracuse, NY, wanted to make a school auditorium that is designed for performance – and that doesn't refer only to what happens on the auditorium stage. The team prioritized the technical performance of all elements of the auditorium's design – including the all-important surfacing materials that also had to meet the right standards for aesthetics and style.
From the beginning, the design team knew that an environment created for students required long- and hard-wearing material specifications in order to endure the wear-and-tear that was sure to come as soon as the space was open for use. Another important feature was ease of cleaning. As far as aesthetics were concerned, members of the team sought to create a look that fit the grander scale of the space and provided a style that would last many years for the school. The project started in October of 2015 and finished in 2016.