Ramona High School Theater

A 1950s auditorium transformed into a resilient 1,200‑seat performing arts theater.

LPA partnered with Riverside Unified School District to reimagine Ramona High School’s aging auditorium into a modern performing arts theater. What began as a seismic upgrade quickly evolved into a comprehensive transformation of the 1950s facility, addressing critical accessibility challenges, outdated systems and the need for a state‑of‑the‑art educational environment for the school’s performing arts programs.

The building serves as the school’s public face and anchors the main entrance, presenting a clear, visible presence from the street. New exterior seating and gathering areas support daily student life and reshape how students, families and staff interact during pickup and dropoff.

A major addition to the building introduced a gallery that serves as a welcoming gathering space, complete with a new ramp and stair that resolve long‑standing accessibility issues created by the original sloping floor.

The auditorium itself was rebuilt from the ground up. The lobby was redesigned to create a more inviting arrival space, while the interior received new seating, improved sightlines and contemporary finishes. The structural engineering team replaced the unreinforced plaster ceiling with a lighter, acoustically enhanced system that meets current seismic code requirements and improves sound performance. Upgraded connections between the roof and the structure’s existing masonry walls add to the building’s resilience.

The stage and technical systems were completely modernized, giving students access to professional‑grade rigging, efficient lighting and advanced audio equipment. New lighting and sound control rooms expand the theater’s capabilities and provide hands-on learning opportunities for students interested in technical production, design and stage management.

LPA also redesigned three adjacent classrooms as flexible spaces that support daily instruction and performance needs. These areas now function as choral, drama and band classrooms during the school day and convert into changing rooms, rehearsal spaces and a dedicated green room during productions — amenities the original building lacked.

Sustainability and preservation played a meaningful role in the renovation. The integrated team replaced dated HVAC systems with high-performance solutions that improve energy efficiency and indoor air quality. The original stage’s wood strip flooring was salvaged, refinished and repurposed as lobby wall cladding to bring warmth and history into the new interior, and art deco cast iron aisle end posts were restored and retrofitted with modern lighting.

The result is a revitalized performing arts theater that honors the building’s legacy while preparing it for decades of future use. It stands as a robust learning hub for students, a gathering place for the community and a new landmark for Ramona High School.