A look through the windows at BHS

The high school is a versatile building with many distinctly designed sections. During a seemingly never-ending day, the school’s windows are refreshing reminders that the outside world exists. They fill classrooms with natural light, serve as vantage points to spy on friends and make common spaces more comfortable. Here are some of these windows ranked based on fundamental categories.

Room 385
Total Score: 6/10
Basics 3/3
These large panelled windows sit directly above the entrance to the atrium. They let in loads of natural light and stretch almost from the floor to the ceiling. The square panels are unlike anything found in the rest of the school. Room 385 is a large classroom, so it seems fitting for it to have big windows taking up an entire wall.
Cleanliness 1/2
View 1/2
Looking out this window, you’ll see Greenough St. in front of the building and the large park beyond. However, with the construction happening on the park, the view isn’t nearly as pleasing as it used to be. Piles of dirt are way less attractive than a big, grassy field.
Accessibility 0.5/2
These windows are inside a classroom, which means only certain students get the privilege of looking out such large and beautiful windows, while most classes have less natural light.
Other 0.5/1
The shades are broken and can’t be opened up all the way, which unfortunately defeats the point of having such large windows.

2nd floor picnic table (back hallway)
Total Score: 6.5/10
Basics 2.5/3
This window can be found in the hallway of the school parallel to Welland Road.
Cleanliness 1/2
View 1/2

The view here is very seasonal. In the winter, the bare trees and gray skies won’t make for a very pleasing view. But until that happens, it’s a nice perspective of fall colors and big trees.
Accessibility 2/2
This window is in a great location. Not only is it in a commonly-trafficked hallway, but it is also right next to one of the indoor picnic tables that are a great place to sit and get work done during free time.
Other 0/1
Sometimes the shades are shut, making the picnic tables not as comfortable of a place to work.

Old Warrior Cafe (near vending machines next to the cafeteria)
Total Score 7/10
Basics 2/3
These windows are high up on the wall of the seating area by the old Warrior Cafe. They let in helpful natural light for students who choose to do work below. The area has been pretty much unused since the addition of the new STEM wing space, and the windows here pale in comparison to the floor-to-ceiling ones just 50 feet away.
Cleanliness 2/2
View 2/2

These windows give a picturesque view of the fall foliage in the quad.
Accessibility 1/2
Although in a fairly accessible location, the area directly in front of these windows is rarely heavily occupied.
Other 0.5/1
The windows are awkwardly cut off at the top and they are weirdly high up the wall.

2nd floor hallway (near library)
Total Score 8.5/10
Basics 2.5/3
This window is a little neglected. If you walk from the library around the school, in the opposite direction of the science wing, you will pass by it. It’s a nice view to break up an otherwise empty section of hallway: the walls are completely bare of color or decor. The window is not too big and overwhelming, but just the right size that students can get a glimpse of the quad beyond.
Cleanliness 2/2
View 1.5/2
There’s a big tree right below the window and you can see all the action going on in the quad, making it perfect for people watching
Accessibility 2/2
It’s in a hallway, not hidden in a classroom like many of the other great windows of the school.
Other 0.5/1
The bottom panel is crooked, which makes it less aesthetically pleasing. The windowsill is wide enough to allow some students to use it as a place to sit and get work done.

Room 311
Total Score 9/10
Basics 3/3
It is very difficult to come up with a complaint about these windows. The entire science wing is dominated by large, luxurious floor-to-ceiling windows, and these are the best of them all. They span almost the entirety of one wall and wrap around a corner to another. The panels are tall and clear, letting so much light into the room that it’s hard to believe they’ll ever need to turn on the lights.
Cleanliness 2/2
These windows have the advantage of being built this year. They haven’t been in the building long enough to accumulate the fingerprints, greasy smudges and dust that build up over time.
View 2/2
The view beyond these windows is of the quad’s tallest tree and all of the action going on below. Since the classroom is on the third floor, looking out these windows gives a nice high-up view. This view will be significantly less nice on a dreary winter day, when the trees in the quad are void of leaves and the sky is gray and cloudy, but for now it’s unbeatable.
Accessibility 1/2
These windows are inside a classroom, which is less than ideal for those who do not have a class in room 311. But, as you walk past, the indoor glass panels allow you to see inside the classroom and through these spectacular windows. Next time you walk past 311, take a look at those giant windows!
Other 1/1
No complaints!