John Legend Theatre Renovation

The John Legend Theatre in Springfield, Ohio, is expected to be renovated by September and school officials are deciding how the space can be utilized by the community.

Photo: Chris Pizzello / Invision / AP

"MusiCares Person Of The Year Gala," Los Angeles Convention Center, Los Angeles, Calif.

The theatre is part of The Springfield Center of Innovation: The Dome, formerly Springfield South High School and is expected to have 700 seats.

However, 400 will be available on the first floor for most of the 2016/2017 season with an additional 300 seats in the balcony completed by fall 2017, according to the Springfield City School District. Meeting rooms at The Dome have been available for public use since last summer, but once renovations are completed, the district will start charging for their use depending on the user.

District school groups will have free access to the venue, educational organizations will be charged a set price and “for-profit groups will pay a different price,” according to the Springfield News-Sun. “I think we all see this as a local venue that does not exist in Springfield that will offer new and expanded opportunities for our students and community’s art, theatre and music groups,” board president Ed Leventhal said.

Legend contributed $500,000 toward the project. The multi-Grammy Award-winning artist is a graduate of the Springfield School District. Estimated cost of the project is $2.5 million.