BB&N is, unarguably, much more than the sum of its buildings. It is a single school that has capitalized on the unique personality of each of its three campuses to match the evolving needs of children as they open the doors to adulthood. The strength of our community and the striking quality of the academic and artistic work that spills out of our classrooms are a testament to what talent, patience and imagination can achieve despite physical constraints.
However, the limitations of our buildings can threaten to hamper our performance. As we learned from building the Nicholas Athletic Center at the Upper School, and more recently, Renaissance Hall, these new spaces are proof that strategic investments in facilities can truly transform the life of the school — allowing new room for learning and studying, rehearsing, experimenting, creating, and performing. Room for asking a question or greeting a friend without getting jostled in the hall! Room enough for the truly wonderful work our faculty and students can do, together.
“If you go all the way through BB&N as a student, changing campuses is a wonderful part of the experience. As you move from the Lower to the Middle School, and then on to the Upper School, it feels as if you're moving to a new school each time. Each campus offers a different experience – and I think that's very special.”
Patricia (Tish) Biggar, Former Administrator/Athletic Director (Parent ’82, ’86)
Our Challenge: Making More Room for Learning
$26 million to create inspiring new spaces at the Upper School
We can now announce that this challenge has been met with great success. Thanks to the extraordinary generosity of so many Opening Minds campaign donors, the enhancements to our Upper School campus have been profound and transformational. With 33,000 square feet of additional space and 36,000 square feet of renovated space, the Upper School and its sparkling addition, Renaissance Hall, feature a new theater, a new dining center and student commons opening onto a central courtyard, new classrooms and science lab, and a new front entrance, along with extensive new space for the visual and performing arts, faculty, and student interactions. By replacing the Upper School's older linear arrangement with a more circular one, the new design has allowed the corridors to function as new community spaces and create a new “heart” to the school.
Beyond these significant new facilities and a crucial sense of “elbow room,” the Upper School campus has gained something absolutely vital to the future success of the school: welcoming spaces that give students, faculty, and staff room to come together as a community.
“I've seen the dynamic learning that occurs in the Upper School between students and teachers, and between the students themselves. Not only has the improved, modern spaces helped further our academic programs, but the creation of more common areas has been an invaluable benefit to the well being of the community.”
– Dr. John M. Knapp, Upper School Director