Local officials unveiled a flashy, state-of-the-art new auditorium complex at Laurel High last week, following close to a year of work on a site that was the former Margaret Edmonston Elementary School.

The $28 million project that began construction last year contains an 800-seat auditorium, a black-box theater, rehearsal rooms for band, a chorus room and a dance room.

The center also contains 18 classrooms, a computer keyboard lab, athletic weight room and administrative offices with a room for day care and preschool.

Chris Wenchel, the school’s administrative secretary, said the new auditorium is not only for use by Laurel High students; it will also be available for use by community groups who want to put on productions or hold meetings.

And the new space will also allow for expanded assemblies at the school, especially the crowded freshman class, Wenchel said.

 “We’ll actually be able to let them all in,” she said.

The 71,767-square-foot addition was funded with $21.5 million from Prince George’s County and $6.5  million from the state.

Some of the interesting features of the construction include soft, springy floors in the dance room to go easy on the dancers’ knees; an integrated sound system to allow teachers to use lapel microphones in class; and a band room with soundproof rooms to allow students to practice without interfering with their peers.

Builders broke ground last June and finishing touches are still being put on the auditorium, Wenchel said. The school system plans to open the auditorium to the students after spring break and following an open house, Wenchel said. The school’s next musical, “Annie,” will also be performed in the auditorium.

In the meantime, the complex’s smaller 70-seat black box theater will be used for smaller performances like violin and piano recitals. During breaks, the audience can grab something to eat at the auditorium’s snack bar while watching a projection of the show in the lobby of the auditorium, Wenchel said.

The auditorium sits adjacent to a learning complex at the school that was completed last October and includes classrooms with technological devices like “smart boards,” which allow students to virtually manipulate objects and words on a white board at the front of the class room.

Charles Hiller, a ninth-grade science teacher, said he was impressed by the classrooms and smart board.

“The students can actually come up and interact,” he said.

Words of praise

County Council Chair Thomas Dernoga said at the ribbon cutting Feb. 25   that he had become aware of Laurel High’s facility needs when his wife was involved in community theater and  brought him to a play at the high school. The school’s theater was small and inadequate.

“The heater was running, making all kinds of noise, and there was no sound system,” Dernoga said. The drama students “saw what other schools had and they wanted fairness.” The new auditorium “shows our children and our school system in a huge, positive light,” Dernoga said at the ribbon cutting.

Mayor Craig Moe was likewise impressed.

 “This is a beautiful facility; it’s state of the art,” Moe said.

Barbara Weidman, Parent-Teacher-Student Association president, said, “This will really help people in the community think,
‘You know, this is a nice place to come.’ ... We’re really up with the other schools now.”

Weidman said the PTSA is looking forward to filling the auditorium when it presents a drug awareness program on April 12.

Principal Dwayne Jones said, “It’s like going from the minor leagues to the major leagues. ... Hopefully, it will rejuvenate the school, give us a push. We have a good school; we want to have a great school.”

Jones added, “I really hope during my tenure we can put together some first-class performances that pack this place.”

After the ribbon-cutting, the 50 or so guests enjoyed performances on the new auditorium stage by the school’s band, chorus and dance troupe. The band and chorus performed Laurel High’s alma mater, which Jones said he hadn’t heard in 20 years. He said chorus teacher Thomas Wright and band director Charles Zimmerman had uncovered and reworked the song.

“It’s absolutely gorgeous,” Zimmerman said of the auditorium. “The opportunity to play in a performance space like that — the kids are so enthusiastic. It’s really going to build the program.” 

Former Leader editor Joe Murchison contributed to this story.

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