Wilmington Friends School Performing Arts Center & Gymnasium

After a fire heavily damaged Wilmington Friends School, the school’s 400-seat auditorium was a total loss. In addition, the subterranean gymnasium was ruined by the thousands of gallons of water pumped on the file above. EDiS Company was brought in to build a new performing arts theater and renovate and reconstruct the school’s gymnasium. The new seating in the theater was designed to be closer to the stage and angled to encourage audience interaction. The auditorium included three catwalks, 20 lines of pulleys for the stage rigging, elements that improve acoustics, and high-tech lighting and sound systems. EDiS also constructed a new enclosure to the school’s existing Ryans Deck area creating a three-floor atrium that became the school’s main entrance as well as a connecting bridge from the band room to the new, wood grain theater.

As the renovations occurred on an occupied campus while school was in session, the EDiS team had to be meticulous with safety measures for the job site. Coordination between the trades, from the structural steel though the finishes, had to be planned out ahead to time to ensure the project stayed on schedule while maintaining all safety standards set out by EDiS and OSHA. The students and faculty had to be able to access the areas around the construction throughout the day, so EDiS constructed plywood partitions that allowed the school population to safety navigate their school day without entering the construction site. Phases were also planned to keep areas open while others were worked on.

The Wilmington Friends School renovation received LEED Gold Certification from the USGBC for the project’s sustainable elements, including use of high-efficiency lighting and recycled content, the re-utilization of the existing structure, and the addition of a green vegetative roof.