Cookeville High School has completed its auditorium lighting project, upgrading the space with new equipment aimed at improving visibility and enhancing performances and school events.
Cookeville High School Executive Principal Karen Trentham said the auditorium now has a completely rewired lighting system with additional lighting. Trentham said the project was a major upgrade.
“As long as I have been here, we have not had a lot of lighting in there, and so it was just – the difference is amazing,” Trentham said. “I think people will be very pleased with it.”
The project cost the Putnam County School System an estimated $680,000. Trentham said the school is pleased that the work is now complete, and the auditorium has reopened for events.
“It’s so nice for us to be able to use that space in this building,” Trentham said. “You know, when we have events, and we need to get so many people together, that is the best place for us to meet, and so now that is gonna make it so much more available for us and easier.”
Trentham said the project took several months to complete after delays pushed the timeline past its original goal of being finished before the start of the school year.
“In the past, we have held the freshmen orientation, and we were not able to do that in the auditorium because it was not finished, just for different reasons, and that was okay,” Trentham said. “We adapted, and so now it’s gonna be ready for our spring performance.”
Trentham said the school’s Fine Arts Department previously had to rent additional lighting for performances and events, creating ongoing costs. Trentham said the new system will ease that financial burden and provide long-term savings for Cookeville High School. Trentham said the school has not had discussions if other events can now be held in the auditorium, but says that is something the school can explore.