The Bloomington Area Career Center has a fresh identity and a bold new future. Now rebranded as the Bloomington Career Academy (BCA), District 87’s reimagined workforce development program is stepping into a modern era.
Starting this fall, the Academy will relocate from its Locust Street facility to its new home at the Willie G. and Gloria Brown Education Center on Oakland Avenue in Bloomington. BCA serves high school students from across McLean County, offering hands-on, career-focused programs in fields like culinary arts; automotive technology; computer technology and networking; graphic design and video production; and robotics and engineering. The newly renovated center will feature updated, specialized classrooms; state-of-the-art kitchens; automotive workspaces; and technical training labs—each designed to give students access to real-world, in-demand skills. This facility will also feature a brand new early childhood center: the Sarah E. Raymond School of Early Education.
BCA will continue to partner with local businesses and educational institutions, ensuring students have opportunities for hands-on learning, trade certifications, and dual credit coursework.
How do we transform an existing corporate training facility into a 21st-century vocational tech education center for the 17 districts served by BCA?
Renovation of the former corporate training facility is underway, more than doubling BCA’s space. New classrooms, labs, and hands-on training areas are being added to support modern, career-focused programs and give students and instructors the resources they need to succeed.
“This is an incredible milestone for Bloomington Career Academy and the students we serve. With this rebrand and our relocation to the Willie G. and Gloria Brown Education Center, we are reaffirming our dedication to providing high-quality, career-focused education that meets the evolving needs of today’s workforce.”
— Bryce Hansen, BCA Director
A competition gym addition, with secure entry and office suite, increases health and wellness opportunities for students and staff, while addressing the district-wide space shortage for student activities. The addition serves as a new front door for visitors, creating a positive first impression for Heyworth CUSD #4.
The Mahomet-Seymour School District wanted to take advantage of their high school expansion to create an image that reflected the strong civic pride in their school’s education, music and athletic programs.
With an already thriving program, the planning of this facility and its location needed to be tightly knit into other district programs, such as athletics and general education. A key consideration was also the ability to expand program offerings in the future, through enlarged facilities and features which could include on-site gardens, crops or additional livestock support.