Parents of former, current and future students of Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School came together on Nov. 28 to examine a feasibility study of three designs for an addition to the high school that would increase the school enrollment by about 28 percent—to 2,400 students.

They had the opportunity to provide feedback that will be incorporated into the designs to be submitted to the Montgomery County School Board. Construction for the addition is expected to last up to two years and must be completed by August 2017, according to Smolen Emr Ilkovitch Architects Project Manager Gary Mosesman.

Although the number of students at the high school is projected to increase to 2,200 students in five years, the plans make enough space for 2,400 students, according to B-CC High School Principal Karen Lockard. The school currently enrolls approximately 1,875 students, according to the B-CC High School’s website. 

All design concepts will include a raised tennis court with additional parking underneath the court that varies by design, from 110 additional spaces in Concept B to 76 spaces in Concept C, according Mosesman. All additions have raised sections, and the tennis courts also vary by plan.

Both Concepts A and B call for the addition to be constructed to the north of the high school and between the school and the tennis courts. The main difference between the designs is that Concept B will include an additional floor that will allow for less of the addition to be built by the tennis courts, according to Mosesman.

The use of the football stadium as a setup area during construction, along with the addition of three columns that would obstruct viewing for some fans, were of concern to parents, who felt that the athletic and physical education programs would be compromised.

Concept C restricts the addition to the west side of the school, which will not impact seating at the football stadium and will not impact the stadium during construction. It is also the most efficient design; however, the addition will be built in front of the school’s main west entrance, which was built in 2002, according to the school's website. The addition will be raised, which will allow buses to drive under the raised portion. Its location will allow four floors to be built, which would create a “more viable” fourth floor than the building’s current design, according to Mosesman.

A fourth concept mentioned at the Oct. 8 meeting suggested the renovation or demolition of the west side of the school be combined with building a fifth floor on top of the school, but that concept has been dropped.

The construction space would be located in front of the building, which would prevent students from entering the building from the west side, Mosesman said.

Montgomery County Public Schools will present the feasibility study to the community on Dec. 11.

Here is a summary of the key features of each plan:

• Concept A: The addition would be built to the north and northwest of the school, extending into the bleachers of the football stadium. It is the least efficient of all the plans, but also the least expensive.
• Concept B: The addition would be built to the north and northwest of the school, with an additional floor built on the northern portion that would allow for less of the addition to be built near the tennis courts. This concept would allow for the largest increase in parking spaces.
• Concept C: The addition would be built to the west of campus, covering the western entrance. There would be a raised portion of the addition to allow for buses, and it would add the least amount of additional parking of all the plans. It is also the most expensive.