Oberlin College and Conservatory’s team won first place at the 2025 United States Institute of Theatre Technology and American Society of Theatrical Consultants Renovation Challenge, held during the USITT Conference in Columbus. Competing against teams from Mesa Community College, the University of Oklahoma, and The Ohio State University, Oberlin’s students impressed judges with their innovative renovation proposal for the Warner Center, a former gymnasium now used primarily for the Theater and Dance programs.
The competition challenged students to redesign existing spaces for performing arts use, with teams judged on design quality, feasibility, and presentation. Guided by faculty advisor Eric Steggall and ASTC mentor Howard Glickman, OC ’92, the team — College fourth-year Nelson Gutsch, double-degree second-year Alexis Mérane Hart, College second-year Sam Hechler, College second-year Lorelei McCarthy, College third-year Andrew McCracken, and College fourth-year Charlotte Stephenson — developed solutions to improve accessibility and optimize storage and usability of facilities. Their work earned them the $3,000 award, presented by ASTC President Paul Sanow.
The team chose to focus on Warner Center, aiming to propose a comprehensive renovation that would modernize the space while maintaining its historical character.
“It’s such a beautiful building and so much awesome stuff happens there,” McCarthy said. “At the same time, it is over a hundred years old. It was not designed to be a theater or dance space.”
McCarthy and their fellow team member Hechler identified the challenges associated with the building, including limited accessibility, inefficient space utilization, outdated flooring, and safety concerns.
The team’s key recommendations included changes that address the Americans with Disabilities Act violations and bring the building up to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification standards. Some suggestions involved the installation of elevators, reconfiguration of rehearsal and performance areas, upgrades to fire and technician safety, and implementation of modern lighting and sound systems to improve production quality.
Although the team was formed in October 2024, the majority of the work was completed over Winter Term. In early February, they submitted a comprehensive 30-page written proposal including floor plans, renderings, and accessibility research. After receiving feedback from their ASTC mentor, the team refined their design in preparation for the final presentation at the USITT conference in early March. The conference was attended by 21 Oberlin students who supported the presenters.
Although the competition serves as a theoretical exercise, the team hopes their work will inform future renovations of Warner Center. Some minor improvements, such as replacing the main performance space floor, are already planned, though it remains unclear whether these decisions were influenced by the team’s proposal.
Beyond the competition, the team actively raised concerns about campus accessibility, emphasizing the need for structural improvements in performance spaces. In March, the team discussed their project on campus for a number of faculty.
Looking ahead, McCarthy and Hechler plan to compete in the 2026 competition, refining their approach and advocating for more implementable changes. Gutsch and McCracken also won second place at the contest two years ago, focusing on renovating Hall Auditorium.
“One of the reasons that Andrew and Nelson … brought us onto the team is that we’re second-years; we’ll be here in two years and we can do it again,” McCarthy said. “And I’m totally excited for that.”
