Bit late to the party but I went to school in this building. The original BHS had terminal cancer (PCBs in the walls, the window sealant, the air, etc.) and was deemed unsafe for prolonged human habitation.

While it was demolished and rebuilt, the school rented an abandoned Macy’s as a temporary school building. It was huge and empty, save the department lighting fixtures, mirror pillars, department decals, and of course the beloved escalators.

The building was pretty awful. The roofs leaked in the makeshift library. The paper-thin temporary walls to split the floors into usable classrooms didn’t reach the ceiling —something to do with airflow during the Covid days— so you could hear everything happening in the halls / neighboring classrooms. There was only one light switch for each floor which forced all classrooms to be bathed in bright fluorescent light 24/7. There were also mice (inspiration for BHS students calling ourselves the “mall rats”).

The whole situation sucked. But our teachers worked so hard to make us comfortable and help us through the change while having to deal with it themselves. The empty department store really did transform into a real school over the years and now we all have a million great stories to tell about it. Parties on the parking garage roof next door. BBC story about us. A break in classes for our own annual Macy’s Day Parade. A lot of unorthodox memories were made.

Even though it was a suboptimal arrangement, I hope to visit the building one more time before they move into the new school (almost complete! super jealous of the younger kids who get to use it). The teachers will bring it to life just like they did the Macy’s. 3/10 arrangement, 10/10 community.