Renovation project at Butler Area High School moving forward

BUTLER, Pa. — A renovation and construction project is in the process of moving forward at the Butler Area Senior High School, after being given initial approval.

The project is expected to make the senior high school safer and bigger.

The Butler Township Planning Commission gave conditional approval to the Butler Area School District for the project, with land development plans including more classroom space as well as locker room renovations, according to our partners at Butler Radio.

“The plan that’s currently in the approvals process is a 10-classroom addition, plus a STEM space that will connect the existing high school cafeteria with the existing gymnasium building,” lead architect with IKN Architecture Matt Hansen said.

The classroom addition would occupy the current site of the covered walkway near the Vo-Tech and include STEM space, a large group instruction area and a connection to the 300 wing that is needed to shift ninth grade students to the Senior High.

Another is the new addition that includes locker room improvements and a part connecting the separate buildings so the campus is more secure.

“Right now if kids have to go outside to one building to another that represents a gap in their safety protocol,” Hansen said.

The recommendation is conditional on a few issues, including a property line issue and storm water flow.

This project will go before the Butler Township Commissioners later this month for final approval.

As for the district it’s awarding bids which are due next week. That’s when they will have a full understanding of the cost of the project and make sure its within the budget, which is expected to be under $15 million. Then it will be considered by the school board in August.

A separate project at the school which was already approved and is in construction is the new auxiliary gym, which is expected to be completed in January 2022.

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