When Hibbing High School decided to renovate their historic auditorium, they needed to take special care to maintain the original architecture of the space, while ensuring it remained functional for years to come. Thanks to the seating experts at Haldeman Homme, they were able to restore their space to its classic style without sacrificing quality.
The Hibbing High School auditorium was built in the 1920s, and was designed to look like the Capitol Theater in New York. The 40 by 60 foot stage is framed by a 20 by 40 foot proscenium arch, which is bordered by large pillars. The “fly” area that holds the stage’s backdrops rises 90 feet above the stage floor. The Hibbing High School auditorium has hosted everyone from presidents to musicians, the most famous being Hibbing’s own Bob Dylan.
By 2017, when they began the first phase of the renovations, the ceilings were peeling and the iconic auditorium seats were fraying. Hibbing Schools secured $2.5 million in funding from the school district, as well as $250,000 in capital grant money and other private donations.
Haldeman Homme came on board to help Hibbing restore the auditorium chairs. It was a highly detailed process that involved disassembling all of the seats, piece by piece, and sending them out to be refinished to replicate the originals. All new seat covers match the originals, keeping the integrity of the historic building while making it accessible for new generations.
The final result is a stunning auditorium with gorgeous seats that match the classic style of the space.
