Has anyone ever installed surge suppresion on an entire building? The building in question is a movie theater. 480v 1200a service. Also would you buy a single lightning strike frying every single pole light ballast in an entire parking lot, as well as some equipment inside?

Sure, sounds possible.
Surge suppression at the service is a great possible solution. Also check lightning protection in the area.

well if can run down a tree jump on a telephone wire & burn it off the wall(saw this happen twice). you may also find the wire missing to the poles.as for surge suppresion. ive seen some out there. ERWIN

Use a surge arrestor at the service, NEC 280. Use TVSS (Transient voltage surge suppressors) NEC 285 at your various sub-panelboards.

TVSS is made by all the leading manufacturers as well as many after market people. Check out Power Quality's website.

As for your ballasts, sure, seen that a bunch. fuse each one at the bottom of the pole base at just above the normal draw takes care of a lot of the problem, you may lose a fuse occasionally, but rarely anything else. Made by AB Chance, Cutler hammer, and Bussman, I think Bussman makes the best ones.