New Pennsbury High School Design Details Revealed

FAIRLESS HILLS, PA — The new Pennsbury High School is getting closer to reality.

At a special Pennsbury School Board meeting last Thursday, new details were revealed about the new $269.5 million, 495,000-square-foot high school that is expected to start construction in the new year.

KCBA Architects, the district's chosen designers, details plans for the new high school that will replace the district's Pennsbury East and West campuses, putting high school students under one umbrella.

The building will be constructed on the south side of the current campus along Hood Boulevard in Falls Township. It is expected to hold between 2,800 to 3,000 students and staff.

Here are some of the plans outlined by KCBA Architects’ Mike Strohecker at the meeting:

• The design focuses on modern learning spaces and enhanced security measures.
• Plans include a secure vestibule with bulletproof glass at entrances.
• Visitors will be vetted through driver’s license checks.
• Over 300 security cameras will be monitored by two security offices.
• Security features are designed to slow down an intruder.
• Classroom windows will feature laminated glass designed to crack but remain in place when struck.

The school district was seeking prospective contractors, who want to bid on the high school project. Bids are expected to be released shortly after the new year.

The school district plans to build a new, single high school for grades 9-12 on the existing campus, with a projected completion date in 2029.

The new $269.5 million building will replace the two current high school buildings and a separate elementary school, and will include a three-story academic wing, a 1,000-seat auditorium, and updated athletic facilities, including a pool.

The project will likely be funded through a combination of sources, and a potential tax increase has been estimated to range from about $270 to nearly $620 annually for the average homeowner, depending on the municipality.

The school district serves residents of Falls Township, Yardley, and Lower Makefield Township.