$28M Luther Burbank Auditorium Renovation To Begin

SANTA ROSA, CA – A groundbreaking ceremony for the renovation of Luther Burbank Auditorium at Santa Rosa Junior College is set for Tuesday, Jan. 9 at 2 p.m. and will kick off the college’s 100th year anniversary celebration.

The Sonoma County Junior College District said this $28 million project, the first major capital improvement undertaking of the District’s Measure H bond, will completely renovate the interior with improved sight lines and full ADA access of the 400-seat auditorium, now nearly 80 years old.

Improvements will include a renovated prop shop and full costume production facility, in addition to two new classrooms, plus a new “Studio Theater,” a multi-function flexible space that will be used as a 200-seat teaching classroom, a black box theater, and a movie theater.

"The exterior shell of the building will be preserved, but the interior spaces will be completely modern, allowing the theater faculty more flexibility in the types of programs they offer," the district said. "Overhead lighting and audio-visual equipment will be state of the art and designed to match the standards that SRJC students will expect to find when they work in industry."

The project was designed by the award-winning architecture firm Mark Cavagnero and Associates, with theater consulting provided by the Shalleck Group, according to the district. Local firm TLCD Architecture is the project's executive architect, with Santa Rosa-based Wright Contracting as general contractor. Harris and Associates is providing construction management services.

“This extraordinary design will complement the work of our outstanding theater programs and will bring a new generation of theater lovers to the college," Superintendent and President Dr. Frank Chong said. "We could not be more proud of the 100 year legacy of SRJC, and the renovated Burbank Theater will allow our students to share their incredible talent with the SRJC community for the next 100 years.”

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