After a year, BHHS administration and design consultants knew they had to make a decision.

“When you build a new building, you’re never sure how things are going to operate,” said Principal Charlie Hollerith. “The Knowledge Market design concept was a new one and we knew we wanted it to be an academic space that kids could use both formally and informally as well as teachers, booster groups, or clubs.”

Hollerith said his administration decided that a proper change for the area behind the Main Commons right off of Main Street, known as the Knowledge Market would be to to re-introduce it as an extension of the Media Center.  

“There were a lot of students in the Knowledge Market last year, that did not need to be there,” said Media Center Staff Member Stephanie Bevier . “Students were loud in the Knowledge Market, and it slowly became a place where students would hangout to try to fly under the radar.”

According to Bevier, students can expect a different setting in the Knowledge Market this year.

“Ideally, the new model will look a lot like the Learning Community commons. Multiple classes can come down to do interdisciplinary work, and there is enough space for students to partner up together, in a easier atmosphere rather than a traditional classroom, like those in the G-Wing,” said Bevier.

Another change taking effect this year, is the closure of the main entrance from the main commons. According to Hollerith, in the 2015-16 school year, student traffic was a main reason for the change.

“This year in the Knowledge Market, it will be easier to teach and to learn in,” said Bevier. “Because we are stopping traffic, there won’t be as many disruptions so it can be a quieter space.”

While there has been some improvement in utilizing the space, Hollerith said that administration and design team have future plans to ease traffic by making an additional staircase to the left of the now closed entrance.

“If you go towards the art wing, that is where those bathrooms are and the showcase is there, their [design consultants] recommendation was to make that area a staircase because if you have to go to the G-wing you wouldn’t need to cut through the Knowledge Market. One of the things we had hoped for was that this past summer, that the showcase would be taken out and a staircase would have been put in, however, this year’s budget would not allow for that,” said Hollerith.

Because the budget didn’t allow for an additional staircase students like Junior Ethan Denk are feeling frustrated.

“It makes it a lot more difficult for me to get to my classes, and it is also very inconvenient. I have a class in the Knowledge Market, and I have to walk all the way around just to get there,” said Denk of the closure.

Hollerith said he and the rest of his administration recognize that students like Denk are frustrated by the closure.

“It is an inconvenience for students and staff, but it has made the space more usable and desirable for many activities,” said Hollerith. “We are hoping next year that a staircase is put in on that side of the Knowledge Market to make it easier to get up to the G-wing and hopefully, that will rectify many of the problems.”