Elm Creative Arts School

For years, the performance space at Elm Creative Arts was full of creativity and talent, but the technology behind it was struggling to keep up. The school’s outdated lighting system had become unreliable, making it difficult to fully use the space for performances, rehearsals, and collaborative arts programming.

When Milwaukee Public Schools began looking for a new integration partner, Avenue Systems came recommended through a trusted electrician who had previously worked with the team on school and church projects throughout Wisconsin. What started as a referral quickly turned into a strong working partnership focused on creating a better experience for both students and staff.

Elm Creative Arts needed more than just updated equipment. Because the school’s curriculum is centered around the arts, the goal was to create a system that felt easy to use, flexible, and engaging for students learning in the space every day. Sharie, the director of music curriculum, wanted students to have hands-on interaction with the technology, including the ability to control and program lighting remotely from rehearsal spaces using iPads.

The installation itself came with a few challenges. The theater’s sunken stage design made accessing the overhead lighting grid especially difficult, requiring specialized lifts and careful aerial work above the audience seating area. Avenue Systems coordinated the project in a way that kept safety at the forefront while still working within the demands of an active school environment.

The finished result completely changed how the space functions. New theatrical lighting, updated controls, and simplified usability turned the room into a much more versatile and functional environment for performances and day-to-day instruction alike.

More importantly, the impact goes beyond technology. Students now have access to professional-grade tools and systems that give them real-world exposure to theater and live production environments. Teachers have equipment that supports creativity instead of limiting it. And the school once again has a space that can comfortably host concerts, performances, productions, and community events.

For Avenue Systems, the project was about more than upgrading equipment. It was about helping create a space where students feel inspired to learn, create, and perform.