What’s in a name? At North Hollywood High School, the answer is history, legacy, meaning, and pride. The new auditorium, set to become the heart of student performances and assemblies, carries a name that honors legendary composer John Williams, a graduate whose music has shaped generations of film and culture worldwide.

The new John Williams Performing Arts Center represents one of the final pieces of North Hollywood High School’s years-long campus modernization project. Replacing the original auditorium built in 1927, the new facility transforms the center of campus into a modern performance and learning space designed for future generations of Huskies.

According to assistant principal Xavier Chavez, the original auditorium had become increasingly difficult to preserve. Renovating the historic building would have required extensive reconstruction to meet modern safety and performance codes, ultimately removing much of what made the space historic in the first place.

“They thought it’s not worth keeping what we have,” Chavez said. “To bring it up to code as an auditorium, they would have spent so much renovating it and torn down so much of it.”

The new 35,000-square-foot facility now features an 800-seat theater, advanced lighting and sound systems, rehearsal and classroom spaces, backstage technology, and specialized performance areas. Chavez explained that the building is designed not only to host performances, but also to support the development of student performers.

“I think part of the idea of not naming it just an auditorium is to give it a greater purpose,” Chavez said. “The whole backside of it is classrooms for dance, theater, and music. It’s not just a place where people perform — it’s a place where performers develop.”

Many of the auditorium’s features make it unique even compared to other LAUSD campuses. The stage opening is significantly larger than most district theaters, while the five-story rigging system allows for professional-level lighting and stage production capabilities.

One of the building’s most innovative features is hidden beneath the floor. Instead of traditional wall vents, the air conditioning system is installed underground to reduce sound disruption during performances. Cool air rises gently through small openings beneath the seats, allowing the auditorium to remain quiet while maintaining airflow.

“The cooler kind of floats from the floor,” Chavez explained. “There’s no loud vent system, just a gentle breeze.”

The theater also includes padded performance seating and pullout desk attachments in some seats, allowing teachers to hold lessons and presentations inside the space when needed.

This investment is part of a nearly $320 million campus modernization project intended to provide students and the community with a modern space for performances, assemblies, cultural events, and artistic opportunities. During the ribbon-cutting ceremony, LAUSD Acting Superintendent Andrés Chait described the building as “a message to every student who steps onto that stage — that their dreams are worth investing in.”

For Chavez, the auditorium’s location at the center of campus is especially meaningful. Surrounded by the cafeteria, athletic facilities, and academic buildings, the center physically connects different parts of student life together.

“When it’s done, everything’s going to tie together,” Chavez said. “It becomes the middle of campus.”

The official name of the building, the John Williams Performing Arts Center, was approved by an almost unanimous vote. Chavez said the decision reflects both Williams’ accomplishments and the school’s larger history and identity.

“I think the whole purpose of naming buildings is to honor not just the person, but the history of a community,” Chavez said. “We’re all part of something bigger than ourselves.”

Williams, one of the most celebrated composers in film history and a North Hollywood High School alumnus, attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony held on April 29. His work includes scores for Star Wars, Jurassic Park, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, Jaws, and Raiders of the Lost Ark.

During the ceremony, students, alumni, and district officials gathered as the school marching band performed selections from Williams’ iconic film scores. Williams told the audience he was “overwhelmed and full of joy” and encouraged students to fully embrace the opportunities the building provides.

By naming the center after Williams, the school hopes students feel connected to the legacy of those who walked the halls before them. Chavez believes the name itself encourages curiosity and pride among students.

“It forces you to ask, ‘Why John Williams?’” Chavez said. “Then you realize he came to school here. You should be proud as Huskies that he walked these halls.”

Plans for the building include visible exterior signage and artistic tributes honoring Williams’ work throughout the lobby and interior spaces. However, according to Chavez, Williams requested that the school use his name rather than his likeness, meaning the building will honor his artistic legacy without displaying portraits or murals of him directly.

Instead, school leaders are considering displays inspired by the films and music that shaped his career.

Beyond performances, the school hopes the center becomes a gathering place for assemblies, cultural celebrations, and community events. Chavez noted that previous events such as Armenian Genocide remembrance programs and student cultural showcases often relied on auditorium space that no longer existed during construction.

“It allows for more events that aren’t just in a gym,” Chavez said.

Long term, administrators hope the Performing Arts Center elevates arts education at North Hollywood High School and gives theater, music, and performance students a space equal to the school’s athletic facilities.

“We have a football field, a gym, and all these spaces for athletes,” Chavez said. “Now our performing arts students have a space to show off their skills too.”

For many students, the building may also shape their first impression of the school itself. Chavez recalled that incoming freshmen tours traditionally included visits to the old auditorium because student performers wanted to know where they would eventually perform.

“To know that this is where you’ll get to perform,” Chavez said, “that’s an honor.”

The John Williams Performing Arts Center is more than just a building — it is a symbol of excellence, pride, legacy, and inspiration. By honoring a graduate whose music has shaped generations, North Hollywood High School connects its past to its present and future. As students step onto the stage for years to come, they will not only perform in a new space, but carry forward the legacy of a name that represents imagination, achievement, and lasting impact.