Over the years, DC public schools have become condos, luxury gyms,  police substations and city government office headquarters. Just last June, Michelle Rhee had another 23 schools closed.

But it’s good to know that all these business-owners, developers, and city government reps aren’t the only ones pouring money into school buildings—-DCPS seems to be making an effort too.

Last month, the school system completed an architecture competition for the renovation of Wilson High School, which drew 21 proposals, narrowed down to a “short list” of six firms. Each firm was given $25,000 to prepare preliminary design concepts. Ultimately, Cox Graae + Spack Architects (GCS) of Washington won.

As for the bell image above: Well, DCPS paid to have this 1883 dinger rehabilitated in Ohio,  and it was re-installed in the School Without Walls today. The school will complete its 16-month-long modernization by August. The $37.7 million job will include a roughly 40,000-square-foot addition, and renovation throughout the original building.

In addition to both these projects, DCPS is expecting to use similar design/engineering competitions for Cardozo, Roosevelt and Duke Ellington High Schools in the future, according to a press release.