The reinvention of the former Butler Middle School has begun.

Ownership of the school, which closed in June after more than 100 years of educating students, is expected to be transferred to Pittsburgh Gateways Corporation for $1 next month by the Butler Area School District Board of Education.

A nonprofit redevelopment company, Pittsburgh Gateways plans to reconfigure the century-old school into a developmental space for the region.

Gateways has a solid track record with such endeavors, having faced similar challenges transforming Connelley Trade School in Pittsburgh into the Energy Innovation Center, a nonprofit organization focused on sustainability and workforce development.

“It was in pretty bad shape, and they remodeled it with the specific purpose of making it a multiuse facility for workforce development, job training and it has commercial tenants,” Butler schools superintendent Brian White said of Connelly Trade School. “Finding someone who has developed an old school successfully is unique.”

White took notice of the transformation and got the ball rolling on repurposing Butler Middle School. Working with the county and the city, the project moved forward. Officials from the school district, the city and county started meeting with Don Evans, CEO and president of Pittsburgh Gateways, who expressed interest in redeveloping the middle school after a tour of the building.

In June, Butler County commissioners hired Pittsburgh Gateways to prepare a plan for a reuse study of the building. The $600,000 cost was paid for by a grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

On a structural level, the 180,000-square-foot facility at 225 E. North St. is in good shape, but there will be challenges in reconfiguring it. White said he hopes to see it become a hub of activity for community and economic development.

Evans said he has been in talks with county leaders to find out what they want to be included in the revamped building. He said amenities such as job training and health care have been addressed by local officials, and there will be rental office spaces that will funnel money back into the redevelopment mission of the nonprofit.

It’s a win-win situation. The district will not be saddled with upkeep of the closed school while it looks for a buyer, and if Pittsburgh Gateways’ vision for the building come to fruition, Butler will get a learning and retail space for the community. The project is great example of how cooperation, teamwork and forward thinking among different entities can accomplish a goal to benefit the community.

– JGG