Construction began on The F. Ritchie Walton Performing Arts Center in January of 1969. Construction of the Auditorium cost 3.1 million dollars according to newspaper accounts. The Auditorium was completed for the 1971-72 school year. The F. Ritchie Walton Performing Arts Center has 1,468 seats; 718 on the main floor, 136 each in the east and west mezzanines, and 478 in the balcony. The Walton Performing Arts Center has hosted everything from professional ballet, to philharmonic orchestras, to high school and college productions, to the best that popular and country music have to offer.