CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (CBS19 NEWS) -- For years, there has been a need to renovate Buford Middle School. Now that work will finally be getting underway.

Charlottesville City Schools says the project to modernize the school will begin in June.

The Charlottesville City Council approved moving forward with the nearly $92 million project last week.

According to a release, this is the city’s first significant investment in school facilities since Charlottesville High School opened in 1974.

“This modernized middle school will meet the educational, safety, environmental, and accessibility standards of today, upgrading facilities that have been largely unchanged since their construction in the 1960s,” said Superintendent Dr. Royal Gurley. “This modernization will bring all the city’s sixth- through eighth-graders into one building, and it marks the first step in creating a centralized preK center at Walker School. And for the first time in decades, fifth-graders will learn in their neighborhood elementary schools. This project is a win for our whole community.”

The work is expected to continue until August 2026, with students still attending their classes in the building at the same time.

It will include new education spaces, safety upgrades, a new ventilation system, geothermal energy, improved accessibility, and more

The exact timelines for the work are not yet known as the construction contract hasn’t been finalized.

But once that happens, the city and the contractor will come up with a plan on the expected timelines for different phases of the project.

The first step is expected to be the fencing off of the current main office around to behind the gym building.

The main office entrance will be moved to the bus loop entrance as will the visitor buzzer intercom.

For more information on CCS modernization projects, click here.