Wheeler Auditorium is UC Berkeley’s Largest lecture hall and is a multi-functional space hosting; core class lectures, CalPerformanes, and prominent visiting speakers. In need of an update to 21st-century standards, the improvements of this space included a new AV system, CAT 6A cables, new stage rigging, and modernized finishes including new fixed seats.
Wheeler Hall Improvement balanced modernizing a large 700-person lecture hall for 21st-century education located in a historic Classic Revival Building built in the early 20th century that was partially rebuilt in the mid-1970s after a fire. A large part of the project included weaving new data cables and AV/speaker equipment almost invisibly into the existing building fabric while modernizing the finishes such as new fixed seats, refinishing the wood stage flooring, replacing the carpet, and painting the vestibule.
The core goal of the Wheeler Auditorium Improvement project was to maximize the student’s educational experience. With a tight budget, the design provided a lot of value by focusing on the fixed seats which were replaced with new ones, the AV system was upgraded with new web capture technology and class polling equipment, and access improvements to the path of travel as well as seating accommodation exceeding code requirements. At each phase of the project - the cost estimate and project scope were carefully reviewed against the goal of improving the student experience to make sure the project stayed on budget.
