Major upgrade planned for Bren Mar Park ES

Fairfax County Public Schools is proceeding with the renovation and expansion of Bren Mar Park Elementary School.

The community is invited to a hybrid meeting on March 14, 6-7 p.m., to learn more about the project and provide feedback. The meeting will be in person in the school cafeteria, 6344 Beryl Road, Alexandria. The meeting can also be accessed on Zoom.

According to an earlier presentation on the project by the Perkins Eastman architectural company, plans call for adding partial second and third floors. The existing courtyard would be opened up, and two new courtyards would be added.

The library entrance would be relocated to enhance the civic presence of the school. The cafeteria would be moved to the east corner of the building, with direct views of the fields. Art classrooms would be located on the second floor, for panoramic views of the fields and neighborhood.

Grade levels would be logically grouped together. Prekindergarten, kindergarten, and special education classrooms would be concentrated at the rear of the school with direct access to parking, outdoor play areas, and a dedicated entrance.

Funding for the planning and design phase, $4 million, comes from a school bond passed by voters in 2021.

Construction is expected to start in spring 2024 and be completed in fall 2026.

Bren Mar Park has 493 students in preK to grade 5. The expansion would increase capacity to 800. The school currently is at 100 percent capacity and has 11 temporary classrooms.

Bren Mar Park opened in 1957 and was last renovated in 1991. The school feeds into Holmes Middle School and Edison High School.

Another community meeting is planned for April 12.