The construction at BHS is coming to a close. The final trees have been planted, and the final touches are being placed on the few unfinished rooms.

The recent construction added a new English wing, a new auxiliary gym and athletic facilities, renovated front offices, cafeteria, library, music suite, art room and social studies classrooms. Upgrades were also made to the heating and cooling system along with the plumbing and technology infrastructure. Nearly everything was repainted, along with the additions and updates to the building’s safety features.

These substantial improvements were not free. The whole construction cost nearly $36 million. The project was funded by Beachwood taxpayers and federal grants.

According to the construction budget provided by district Treasurer and CFO Michele Mills, the largest amount – about 18% – of that money was dedicated to the HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) The second largest expense was the electricity and technology infrastructure at about 13%.

This project was the first major renovation in the building’s 56-year history. However, there have been several minor renovations along the way.  For instance, the atrium and science hallway were added in 2003-2004.

There were several reasons why the most recent renovation was needed, one of the biggest being the boilers. They were put in when they first built the building.

“[The boilers] weren’t even being made anymore,” said Asst. Superintendent Robert Hardis.

50 years ago no buildings were built with AC, this one included, which made the building unbearable during warm weather. There was never enough electricity because the HVAC and electrical infrastructure was outdated and didn’t do the job. The band, orchestra and choir rooms were in the basement, resulting in difficulty with setting up a concert. The gym floor was buckling and locker rooms were massively inadequate.

One of the hardest parts of the construction was to accomplish it while school was in session. Senior Aliza Tresser feels that the noise and temperature were the worst part of attending high school during the construction process.

“The noise during tests made it hard to focus…walking through cold hallways in the winter was not nice either,” Tresser said. During the construction, students walked through a hallway with almost no heat.

According to Hardis, one reason for the construction was to expand the facilities. “We were hampered by the age of the building,” he said. “[We wanted to] provide spaces that would match the quality of the programs.”

The 100/200 spaces were much too small. Social studies teacher Melissa Buddenhagen explained that the old classrooms were inadequate.

“They were boiling hot in the warm weather, if outside was 80 degrees, then inside it was 95 [degrees]… it was also freezing cold in the winter.”  Buddenhagen said that classrooms were “dark, all old and disjointed…none of the furniture matched… I hated the chalkboards.” She added that in one classroom there were only two outlets. “If you plugged in too much stuff everything would shut down… there just wasn’t enough electricity.”

Buddenhagen is much happier with her new classroom. “I love the technology…  [and the] tables all match. The white boards are much better [than the chalkboards].”

One of the biggest changes is in the atrium. Hardis describing it as feeling very closed-off. Now, the atrium is more accessible and a hallway leads directly to the cafeteria. Hardis is very enthusiastic about the new cafeteria, describing the old one as “small, dark and dirty.”

“It [the cafeteria] was dingy. It had no natural light and a low ceiling. It was not what it could be,” Hardis explained. “[The construction] was an opportunity to make it better… to make kids feel like they want to have lunch in this room.”

BHS Principal Edward Klein agrees with Hardis. “The cafeteria is a beautiful space now.”

Hardis also explains that the facility doesn’t exactly make the school, what is important is the school’s programs. Most importantly, the students make the school. Hardis acknowledges the students in being smart during the construction.

“Occasionally a student went through a wrong area, but, I credit our students they are respectful and smart. They are mindful.” Both Hardis and Klein are thrilled about the new building, Klein especially. He is not only excited for the new features of the building, although he also loves the art room because “it has so much natural light”and the library for its space, but the fact that it will aid student learning. Klein explains that technology is a huge part of the way this school works, and the new building will be very good at accommodating that need.

Another one of the much-needed upgrades to this building was the library. Both librarians Paige Dudley and Jennifer Flaherty acknowledge that the old space was nice, but they also agree that the new space is amazing.

“The space now is much more manageable. We have much better display spaces and people are definitely noticing.” The construction has added two private conference rooms for studying and now Flaherty has her own classroom. One of the most noticeable parts of the library are the new windows, but one of the best improvements is the temperature. Both librarians agreeing that the “nice, cool temperature” is a huge improvement.

Students at BHS also like the new building, Freshman Danielle Dubin said, “It’s really nice. I like that it’s air conditioned… it’s big and spacious.” She also like the classrooms, describing them as “really big… you don’t feel cluttered.” Tresser loves how the building now has “temperature- controlled classrooms.”

Like most students and staff, Klein is thrilled about the new building.

“Other schools will come here to see what we did on this project,” he said.