The addition to Battle Creek Central High School is shaping up, with structural steel dominating the landscape next to the existing school on West Van Buren Street.

A $67 million bond  issue was passed by voters in 2007 to fund the renovations and additions to Central High School and Valley View Elementary.

The 161,800 square-foot addition and renovation of 248,500 square-feet of remodeling work is being managed by Skanska/Schweitzer. The major design challenge, according to project architect TMP Associates,

is that “the exterior of the addition must match the existing neo-classical style, and the interior must incorporate small group learning spaces.” The original high school building was erected in 1908.

The addition will include new space for a physical education and fitness center, administration, food service and student dining/commons. Space will be available for 1,400 students. Students will have the opportunity to use the enhanced and expanded fine arts wing, which includes a black box theatre, dance studio and broadcasting studio.

Currently the men’s and women’s sports teams are spread out all over the city. The school district said one the primary goals at the high school is to “return the sense of ‘campus’ to the school, bringing all sports events to one area and making it easier for athletes, students, and families to attend and participate.”

THE EXISTING Battle Creek Central High School at right was built in 1908, and its addition will be completed a little over a century later.