The Bakersfield High School Warren Hall renovation is a groundbreaking project that aims to rebuild and modernize the building. The campus construction was first reported on by “The Blue and White” in September.
The BHS administration has approved the addition of two new walkways leading into Warren Hall. Administrators hope that the additional wheelchair-friendly pathways will reduce the number of students using the existing walkways at any one time, provide more access for students with physical disabilities, and result in smaller crowds for students as they enter and exit Warren Hall.
Students and residents driving down California Avenue have noticed a cinderblock building over by the Science Building, and they can often be heard discussing what is being built there.
Alicia Olejnik, BHS Assistant Principal of Instruction, stated that this is the building that houses the chillers. The chillers are a part of the systems that cool down Warren Hall.
Olejnik stated that the installation of the chiller required construction because “they had to go underground to put the chillers [underground], so they had to dig. That’s why they decided to house the chillers” within the small concrete structure.
“It’s more on track than it has been in the past,” Olejnik stated when asked if the Warren Hall project is still on schedule.
The project has previously experienced short delays, so it is very good news that everything is back on track now.
The administration is also looking to repaint Warren Hall, as well as upgrade the classrooms. This portion of the operation will start this summer.
Once the classroom renovations begin this summer, the administration is ordering the placement of portables on the Gleaners practice field located by the senior parking lot. They will also create a walkway for students to cross between the main campus and the portables safely.
Olejnik stated that because BHS does not have a lot of land to play with during the renovation process, they will move the classrooms out into the portables one wing of the building at a time. Once they complete the first wing, they will repeat the process with the next wing until the Warren Hall project is finished.
This is a developing story.
