As you may have heard, this will be the last year for Bay Ridge Prep in the 7420 4th Avenue building. Next year, we will be moving into a brand new building on Shore Road, which is currently under construction. Ahead of this big change, we sat down with Dr. Fasano, head of school, and asked some questions about the new building. We wanted to offer some insight into Dr. Fasano’s process with the building, and how he started this big step forward for Bay Ridge Prep.
Q: What motivated you to start looking for a new building?
A: We own one building already, and my goal before I retire from this school is to leave Bay Ridge Prep with two owned buildings. It’s also nice to have freedom in our own space.
I’m sure all of us have experienced trying to find rooms to meet with teachers, and all of the rooms being taken, or having a class in 309 where people just had lunch. Having our own space means that we wouldn’t have to deal with these inconveniences, but of course Dr. Fasano had to find a building that would be perfect for Bay Ridge Prep.
Q: What were the requirements that you were looking for in the new building?
A: We’ve been searching for properties for seven years. We went through 3 other major properties, and in every situation there was some variable that didn’t work for us. There were big issues with the other buildings. We needed enough space for classes, but also for a gymnasium. That was the biggest requirement. We also wanted an outdoor space that would be fun for the kids. After the current renovations, the next phase is to build a gymnasium. We’re going to tear down the house that is next to the school and build it there.
We’re all excited to have a new gym. We can have home games in our own space, and not have to travel anywhere to go to sport’s practice. We can also look forward to all having gym together on rainy days. The proximity to the park means that we cut out the long walks from 4th Ave to Shore Road. But of course, buying a building is a huge decision. We had to ask Dr. Fasano what made this building the right fit.
Q: What was the “Say yes to the dress moment”? How did you know that this building was right for Bay Ridge Prep?
A: I had been calling the owners about this building for about 10 years, asking them when they were going to sell. I always dreamed of housing the high school in this building. The park is right there, it has a waterfront view, it’s just perfect. We jumped on the opportunity when they finally said that they were going to sell the property.
It’s so amazing that we get to be in a building that perfectly meets our needs, and this almost seems like it was meant to be for our school. We go down to that area all the time because of the gym, so we won’t have to worry about getting to know a new area. We had to ask about the next step, and how we’re taking this blank canvas and turning it into our home.
Q: What went into the initial planning when renovating the building? What were the must-have features?
A: I wanted to have the right combination of small and large classrooms, and classrooms that enable teachers to be able to have small groups. We wanted a variety of spaces where students could hang out, like a lounge area. Whatever areas that we were working on and planning with the architects, I wanted to run in by the teachers to make sure that the spaces would work for them. The science teachers were a huge part of making the lab, for example.
I know that we’ve all had the experience of having a small support class in the Mueller Room and being weirded out because of how large the classroom is, and we’ve had classes in 205, where there are only two rows of desks. Having students packed in or super spread out is awkward and uncomfortable. Having a variety of classroom sizes allows us to be in the right space for the right size of class. As well, having specific spaces for specific classes, such as the lab, is a great improvement for our science classes. All things renovation are not without struggle, so we asked about the process of getting through these inevitable hurdles.
Q: What problems have you run into regarding the renovations, funding, etc. and how did you overcome them?
A: Working with the neighbors was a bit difficult, there were only 5 priests living there when we bought the building, and we wanted to help the neighbors understand that a school being built next to them would be an adjustment. The costs of the project of course were hard to deal with, a big question mark always was how are we going to fund this big project? The pandemic also made it more costly to renovate, the prices of materials and labor went up.
Learning about how Dr. Fasano persevered and was still able to get this project done on time for the juniors at the current building to be able to experience the new building is truly remarkable. The thing that all of us are certainly most excited about are the new amenities that we will gain with this new space. My last question to Dr. Fasano was about this.
Q: What amenities are you most excited about?
A: I’m most excited about all of the different spaces that are going to be accessible for students. I’m especially excited about the outdoor spaces, and having the park so close by. As much as our relationship with those that own this building and operate it has been amazing, we wanted to be able to do what we want and have the freedom and stability of owning the building. We’ve been renting lots of gymnasium spaces over the years, but having a gym that’s ours is going to be a game changer. I’m also excited about those who weren’t in this building in past years, they can come back and enjoy this new space as well, and see how far we’ve come. I of course feel for those who are graduating, but they can certainly visit and enjoy this place as well.
We’re all super excited about this next step for Bay Ridge Prep High School. Seeing how excited Dr. Fasano was about the new building, we can’t help but adopt his enthusiasm. While we will miss the charm of the church room and the murals of the walls, and all of the great things about 7420, I think I speak for all of us when I say that this new building is already looking like home.
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