The Bermuda High School held a roof wetting to mark the pre-opening of the new "Renaissance Centre" on Tuesday.

Built to house the school's popular International Baccalaureate programme, the expansion will more than double the existing space ? adding classrooms, common rooms and administrative offices.

The $2.5 million project is being funded by alumni, parents, friends and local corporations and it is expected the new facility will be ready for use by the start of the new school year.

High demand for the IB, a two-year co-ed international college preparatory programme, spurred the need for the addition, BHS director of development Judy Masters said.

"We are the victims of our own success," Ms Masters said.

Students both from BHS and other schools are now choosing to stay in Bermuda to complete the programme instead of going away, she said.

"It prepares people to go to school all over the world," Ms Masters said, adding that IB graduates have been accepted to top universities.

While the IB programme is vigorous, perks for graduates include an advanced standing at university, often with preferential treatment for scholarships, she added.