Bradley-Bourbonnais Community High School District #307 is embarking on a transformative $70 million facility improvement plan, made possible through a $62 million voter-approved referendum and an $8 million commitment from the District. This ambitious three-year initiative is scheduled for completion by Fall 2028.
Major components to unify all students under one roof while enhancing key areas of the campus include:
New Construction: Approximately 90,000 square feet of new space will be added, including a state-of-the-art field house featuring four athletic courts, an indoor track, centralized locker rooms and fitness centers, and a pool observation area. New dining and a reconfigured circulation spine are key to the reorganization of the campus around this new addition.
Renovations: Around 65,000 square feet of existing facilities will be renovated to provide 14 additional classrooms, five dedicated STEM labs, and seven new flexible learning areas.
East Gym Transformation: The existing East Gym will be repurposed into rehearsal and support spaces for the performing arts program.
Campus Flow Enhancements: Upgrades will improve dining facilities and traffic circulation throughout the campus.
Infrastructure Upgrades: Completion of the Physical Needs Assessment (PNA) items, including essential mechanical, electrical, and other building system improvements will be done.
Issues facing the district:
- Outdated facilities
- Safety concerns: 30 exterior doors and 12 modular classrooms requiring outdoor travel
- Space limitations: small cafeteria forces six lunch periods daily, limiting functionality
- Disconnected layout: multiple additions over the years
The design outcome:
- Unifies all students under one roof while
- Supports modern educational needs and the whole student
- Creates a solution for dining / commons space
- Enhances campus safety
- 90,000 s.f. addition, 65,000 s.f. renovation
- Improved dining facilities and traffic circulation throughout the campus
- 14 additional classrooms, 5 dedicated STEM labs, and 7 new flexible learning areas
- Fieldhouse, Athletic Courts, Indoor Track, Locker Rooms and Fitness Center
This plan not only transforms the educational environment but also ensures that Bradley-Bourbonnais Community High School remains a cornerstone of excellence, opportunity, and innovation for generations to come.
Bradley-Bourbonnais Community High School (BBCHS) has been a cornerstone of the Bradley, Bourbonnais, and St. George communities for over 70 years. Built in 1948 to serve 300 students, the campus now supports nearly 2,000 students in grades 9–12. While the District maintained its facilities well, aging infrastructure and evolving educational needs created significant challenges.
After completing a community engagement process and passing a referendum, this district’s iconic, historic building received much needed upgrades. This high-achieving district now features facilities that are up to par with their high-quality academic, fine arts and athletic performance standards.
Through renovations and an addition to a 1950s-era building on a tight city footprint, an engaging, innovative and inviting high school, focused on providing modern facilities to support digital learning, academic achievement and fine arts and athletic excellence was developed. While the student population was highly achieving, the existing school did not reflect the student merit.