BCPS Moves Forward With Plan To Remodel/Renovate Towson High School

TOWSON - A meeting on Tuesday night will review the future of Towson High School's aging building. Baltimore County Public Schools is meeting with parents and community members to discuss renovating or replacing the historical school.

BCPS recently finished collecting community input on what should be done with the school. They will hold a public stakeholder meeting at 6:30 p.m. at West Towson Elementary to review their recommended mitigation plan.

In a recent presentation, the school system laid out four options for demolishing or renovating parts of the school, including one plan to demolish the entire building.

Demolishing the school comes with significant roadblocks due to the building's historic status. Towson High School is listed in the Maryland Inventory of Historic Properties and was recommended for listing in the national register of historic places. The Maryland Historical Trust described the building as "an early example of Mid-Century Modern school design that was particularly prevalent in the post-World War 11 era."

"Towson High School, although updated and altered, retains integrity to its original design and appearance," MHT said. "The school is unusual for its use of stone for its exterior material, which is a preeminent character-defining feature. Although the windows and doors were replaced, the pattern of fenestration and design of the originals was essentially preserved. The rare exterior stone walls and interior terrazzo floors, glazed tile, and block walls all remain intact, making the Towson High School a distinctive and rare 1940s example of Mid-Century Modern School Architecture which survives largely intact."

Towson High School has remained mostly the same since its construction in the 40s'. The school received minor infrastructure updates in 1966 when new doors, windows, and a heating/air conditioning system were installed.

The design process for the new school building is expected to be completed by March 2025.