Article written by Ainsley Hall and published in The Journal on May 6, 2026.
MARTINSBURG – Martinsburg High School celebrates the new auditorium renovation on May 4 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. This 2022 Bond project breathed new life into the old auditorium, updating the sounds, lights and more to give students a new, modern space to perform.
For over a year, the schools have been hard at work renovating the space. Starting with the fine arts addition, which was completed back in August, the auditorium renovation was designed to connect to the new wing while also extending the stage and providing better sound quality. They also updated seating, adding a new handicap space, all while honoring the auditorium’s industrial design.
“Every square inch of this place was touched,” Lee Goodson from W. Harley Miller Contractors said. “All new paint, a lot of plaster work. There used to be windows on one wall where there’s now acoustical panels.”
Goodson said that one of the biggest challenges was the ceiling and removing the old plaster. For months they had scaffolding set up throughout the room just to reach the top. By adding a plaster trim, the renovation stayed true to the historic design while making it feel open and modern.
“Every time I walk in here the past few months I’ve been amazed,” Goodson said. “It looks great and is truly something to be proud of.”
“And this morning it was exciting to see students in use the space,” Facilities and Maintenance Executive Director Ty Tyson said. “The space is designed for students, right? So you walk in this morning, and you have the band playing, I see the dance team over there, and right now, you can see they are enjoying the space. That’s what it’s all about.”
After cutting the ribbon, opening the new auditorium, Superintendent Ryan Saxe shared a few words. He thanked the Board of Education and the community who voted to make this possible.
“What a beautiful tribute to generations of bulldogs who are going to come through these doors to see performances, band concerts, theatrical activities and just a multitude of other things that will serve Martinsburg High School,” Saxe said. “So, thank you. And students, you don’t realize, today you are part of something that is historic and that is the rededicating of the bulldog auditorium.”
Prinicpal Miranda Lynch was excited to finally share the space with the community. For a school with a long history in the community, she knows families will look forward to seeing the new space in person.
“I think it’s just so important to remember where we’ve been, and I think that’s a good testament of this,” Lynch said. “It pays respect to the past but also brings us forward. There are many, many families that have performed in this space. And now their children are performing, their grandchildren are performing, and I think that’s just something that’s so special about this auditorium.”
Lynch hopes students will be inspired by the new space and know that the schools and the community want to put the students' best interests first. They want the best for them and are excited to see students on stage. Juniors and seniors will see the auditorium for the first time on Friday this week as they prepare for prom, while students’ end of the year performances begin next week. Lynch invites the community to come see the auditorium and see students perform.