Brighton Schools to upgrade nearly 100-year-old building

M. Alan Scott
·2 min read

BRIGHTON — The Brighton Education and Community Center, once the district's first modern high school and later a middle school, is getting a facelift.

Construction on the BECC Building on South Church Street is expected to begin this fall. The project will upgrade the nearly 100-year-old building with new windows, a new HVAC system, and other updates.

The BAS Board of Education approved an agreement with locally-based Corrigan Construction to oversee the roughly $2 million project on Monday, April 22. Much of the building’s east wing, including seven classrooms, will be renovated, along with the heating and cooling improvements.

The BECC Building houses classrooms for the Bridge Alternative High School, special education and community education programs, and the Brighton Area Recreation Connection — which manages youth recreation programs for the community.

The Brighton Education and Community Center, once the district's first modern high school and later a middle school, is getting a facelift.
The Brighton Education and Community Center, once the district's first modern high school and later a middle school, is getting a facelift.

District Superintendent Matt Outlaw estimates nearly 30 full-time employees work in the building daily.

“It’s an old building that needs some work, and it’ll have a positive impact on several of our departments,” Outlaw said. “It’s definitely in disrepair, so we’re (pleased) to be moving forward."

Operations aren't expected to be impacted, though there may be some short-term movement of classes and offices.

The project will use up the district’s remaining COVID relief funds, Outlaw said. Money is also coming from the district's 2019 bond.

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There was some discussion among board members Monday about the impact on Bridge Alternative High School’s classrooms and the potential for some renovated classrooms to be used for STEAM activities.

“My understanding is that these renovations will help to make the classrooms more functional. They will be used to help make the classrooms usable for (the alternative high school) in a way they aren’t today,” said Board Vice President Alicia Reid.

She indicated STEAM classrooms could be part of the building’s future, but it won’t happen “until this project gets done.”

— M. Alan Scott is a freelance writer for The Livingston Daily. Contact the newsroom at newsroom@livingstondaily.com.

This article originally appeared on Livingston Daily: Brighton Schools to upgrade nearly 100-year-old building