The Norwin School District held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on March 4, 2026, for the newly renovated Norwin Performing Arts Center—a center dedicated to serving young performers, high school students, faculty members, and the Norwin community. Designed by DRAW Collective, the renovated Performing Arts Center features professional lighting and sound systems, accessible and comfortable seating, and separate large-group instruction spaces for teachers and meetings.
DRAW Collective’s Tricia Monaco, the lead designer for the Norwin Performing Arts Center, spoke about the design process and the positive experience working with the Norwin School District. The ceremony featured three educational stations within the auditorium for attendees to interact with and learn more about the space. Tricia detailed the different aspects of the space and how the team transformed an existing space into a modern, state-of-the-art Performing Arts Center.
Norwin High School Principal, Dr. Michael Choby, showcased the multipurpose seating at the back of the center. What was once blocked off by heavy partition walls is now additional seating with new, easily operable wall partitions. While this area mainly serves as additional seating for performances, the modular walls, projector, and separate lighting and sound system allow the space to be converted into a large-group instruction area. This multifunctional area adds much-needed additional seating for students and staff throughout the school day, in addition to space needed for after-school activities such as faculty meetings.
The district’s lighting and sound systems were also upgraded to improve the audience experience. LED lighting wraps around the wall panels with the light’s color completely customizable by the lighting and sound board. The Performing Arts Center’s surround sound system not only allows all audience members to hear the performances clearly, but it also provides an all-encompassing experience reminiscent of a state-of-the-art theater.
DRAW Collective’s design ultimately provides the district and community members with the visual representation of what Norwin School District is dedicated to: investing in its students’ learning experiences.