The 18-month expansion and renovation of the America First Performing Arts Center (formerly the Cox Performing Arts Center) at Utah Tech University transformed the space into a more comfortable, high-tech experience that can accommodate larger audiences and more complicated productions.

For Hunt Electric, the project kicked off with relocating high voltage primary lines and an upgrade of the existing cooler tower system. During the interior remodel of more than 70 rooms, our team revamped the theatrical lighting and AV systems, performed an all-around refresh of lighting and power systems in the back of house areas, and supported other parts of the remodel. For the auditorium this included 5 lighting relay panes with more than 300 individual lighting relays programmed for adaptive user control and 96 rows of auditorium seating with 192 individual lighting connections. 

This project took place on an active college campus and the main power for the auditorium fed through the sports arena, requiring careful scheduling and coordination with the university to minimize downtime. The auditorium space presented challenges with the height of the ceilings combined with limited space for atrium lifts, but the team adapted their working hours and utilized other trades’ downtime to make it work.