Ogden Rising: Restoration of Historic Ogden High School

I was privileged to attend the First Look event held today for donors and dignitaries at Ogden High School to celebrate completion of the restoration of the auditorium.  The high school is a historic architectural masterpiece that is rife with Art Deco motifs and themes.

The last time I was in the auditorium was several years ago prior to the start of renovations.  What I found inside was remarkable.  Here are some photos.

This is a picture of the proscenium above the stage.  That glimmer is not glossy gold paint.  That is real gold leaf!  The auditorium was restored to it's original specifications.  $9 Million has been raised from local alumni, foundations, and enthusiasts to complete this work. 

The attention to detail is remarkable.

The inside is coming together nicely.  I am so impressed.  Yet, there is still more work to be done.  The north wing of the school is still being worked on.

The school has over 10,000 panes of glass that will all be replaced by the end of construction.  Here is an example of an area where the work is already done.

One of the challenges of construction was trying to retrofit the building to be seismically safe.  The challenge was being able to reinforce the structure without encroaching on the interior space.  To solve this problem the contractor drilled vertical holes in the walls from the roof down into the foundation.  Then, rebar and concrete were injected into the holes.  Amazing idea.  The result reinforces the structure without altering the interior space.

When the community approved the bond in 2006 for the renovation of the school, one of the issues at hand was modernizing the use so it could function as a modern high school.  That meant that some new construction was needed to augment the current structure.

A commons area and gymnasium were constructed.

 It was wonderful to see so many people who contributed their time and resources to make this restoration possible.  The school is an icon and a metaphor for the great resurgence Ogden is experiencing.  As we continue to reinvest in ourselves as a community, we can expect the future to ever be brighter. 

Posted by Jeremy Peterson
Ogden, Utah Real Estate Broker
Mountain Real Estate Companies
801-390-1480