At the USITT Conference in Columbus, Ohio, four teams of students presented their designs for the 2025 ASTC-USITT Venue Renovation Challenge. For the Challenge, participants representing a variety of academic backgrounds including theatre, architecture, and engineering, work together to envision the renovation of an existing theatre space or adaptation of an existing building for performing arts programming. The teams are guided by faculty advisors and ASTC mentors, and presentations are judged by five ASTC members.

Students presented their design with materials including research of existing conditions and user-groups’ needs, hand sketches showing an iterative design process, proposed plans and sections, and interior and exterior finishes. Howard Glickman, ASTC Chair of Outreach and Education, praised each of the teams for delivering thorough, professional-quality presentations.

Earlier in the day, former participants of the Renovation Challenge spoke on a panel describing their journeys from working in the competition to becoming practicing theatre consultants. The panelists attended this year’s presentations and awards in support of this new generation of students and potential future theatre planners!

ASTC President Paul Sanow presented the Edgar L. Lustig Honor Award of $3,000 to the team from Oberlin College and Conservatory. They identified much-needed renovations to the Warner Center, a former gymnasium, which is now used primarily for dance classes and programming. They provided elegant solutions to solve accessibility issues getting into and navigating around the building. The design included restructuring storage areas and restrooms to meet students’ needs.

Team Members: Nelson Gutsch, Alexis Mérane Hart, Sam Hechler, Lorelei McCarthy, Andrew McCracken, Charlotte Stephenson,
Faculty Advisor: Eric Steggall
ASTC Mentor: Howard Glickman

USITT Education and Training Coordinator Andrea Ball presented the USITT Director’s Award of $1,000 to students from Mesa Community College. They developed a concept to transform an existing cineplex into Alice Cooper’s Solid Rock Teen Center Performance Venue. The foundation has a need for performance venues to host existing programming. A dedicated building would provide additional revenue and opportunities for fundraising. The team incorporated visual aesthetics from Alice Cooper’s live show into the interior design and layout of the building. Mesa Community College is the first team of students from a two-year program to compete in the Renovation Challenge.

Team Members: Sedrikk Cramer, Theodore Felix Grant McEntire, Jeffrey Rudolph, Sarah Salmi, Rodrigo Sandoval, Brian Wayne, Elizabeth Witte
Faculty Advisor: Chris Tubilewicz
ASTC Mentor: Kascey Haslanger

Students from the University of Oklahoma presented a plan to modernize the functionality of the Weitzenhoffer Theatre. Existing classrooms and offices would be relocated to a new building, freeing up space adjacent to the theatre for production shops and rehearsal rooms. Rigging support would be leveled and made more accessible, and new stage lifts provide an easier means to store portable seating and create flexible layouts in the space.

Team Members: Elizabeth Elliott, Noah Jittawait, Lucas Knapp, Vesa Qerimi, Ruby Ravsten, Goldie Snow
Faculty Advisor: Jon Young
ASTC Mentor: Kimberly Corbett Oates

The team from The Ohio State University proposed repurposing an esports arena in the Campus Gateway plaza as a live performance venue. The main user groups would be campus improv groups and comedians capitalizing on the energy of the area’s lively restaurant and bar scene. Many venues where these groups perform around campus are not performance spaces. This renovation would provide dedicated technical systems and backstage accommodation for performers.

Team Members: Meklet Kassa, Natalie Knaggs, Sam Sedlacko, Breannachechter, Quanyi Wang, Ansley Wilson
Faculty Advisor: Brad Steinmetz
ASTC Mentor: Jerad Schomer

Each of the four presentations was strong, making selection of the awards difficult for the five judges. The panel of judges consisted of ASTC members and associate members—Cathleen Bachman, Rusty Cadaret, Chris Holland, Jeff Miller, and Christopher Sprague—who provided commentary after the presentation of awards. They were impressed with each team’s ambitious but achievable designs, emphasis on aesthetics, and well-developed design tools like drafting and renderings. Congratulations to all of the participants!

By Robert Jenista, ASTC Associate

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Oberlin College and Conservatory
2025 Edgar L. Lustig Award

Oberlin College and Conservatory First Place award winning project can be viewed HERE.

 

Mesa Community College
2025 USITT Director’s Award

Mesa Community College’s Second Place award winning project can be viewed HERE.

 

University of Oklahoma
Presentation

The University of Oklahoma’s project can be viewed HERE.

 

The Ohio State University
Presentation

The Ohio State University’s project can be viewed HERE.