After Austin High School’s Knowlton Auditorium hosted one of its last large audiences for the season during the AHS graduation ceremony on Friday, work to upgrade and update the space began Monday — right on schedule.

AHS and Knowlton Auditorium will be renovated this summer after the Austin Public Schools Board passed the sale of about $7.6 million in bonds for the renovations last year.

About $2.3 million will go toward upgrading Knowlton Auditorium’s sound and electrical systems. Friday’s graduation ceremony already used the new projectors and screens to view the students up close. The plans for the auditorium also include renovating the open concourse area, interior of the auditorium and making one wall removable for gym access. Several additions to the project include a wall-accent, an epoxy terrazzo and refinishing the gym floor. Hopes are that the removable wall — which will be made from material to withstand impact — will provide more space for big events such as graduation.

Renovations will also be made to Austin High School’s more than 20-year-old heating ventilation air conditioning system, or HVAC system, this summer, which was approved by the board in January. The bonds for this project amounted to about $3.8 million, instead of the $5.3 million originally planned.

JD Driver Ltd. will do the work on Knowlton Auditorium, the Commons and Ove Berven Gym, as well as the work on the HVAC system.

The projects will take place over the summer and were planned together due to the amount of construction each project will require. The district has discussed the projects since I.J. Holton Intermediate School’s construction was completed. All summer programs have been moved out of the high school this summer so work will not disrupt any programing.