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Moffat PK-12 School
"RTA’s staff are very knowledgeable, considerate of the owner's ideas, and patient. They have spent countless hours in meetings with the district's design team, and they have been open minded and willing to make changes that would best serve the district. RTA‘s team worked hand in hand with the district to ensure that the project goals were accomplished. RTA has an exceptional team, and I highly recommend them. You will not be disappointed.”
Kirk Banghart, Former Superintendent, Moffat Consolidated School District
Why
Previously, Moffat struggled with low student motivation, aging facilities that created unequal access to technology and required substantial maintenance, and a lack of appreciation and support for the Fine Arts Program. The school also needed to see improvement in CSAP scores, had inconsistent academic growth, and was losing students to other districts. With these struggles at the forefront, the District wanted to focus on four key tenets: student achievement, resources, public engagement, and technology.
How
RTA, together with the Design Advisory Group (DAG), reviewed the previously completed Master Plan and associated space programming to analyze its effectiveness in accordance with the updated curriculum and educational goals. Together they developed a building design from seven different options with multiple variations to create a school that would best fit the needs and goals of the District. RTA also led an open community design charrette that included creative ways for members of the community to provide input and feedback, such as using interactive 3D models that allowed them to envision a variety of layouts for the major building spaces onsite. Construction tours were held for students, teachers, staff, and community members, and the DAG was directly involved with material and finish selection during the early parts of construction.
What
The new school is located adjacent to their existing facility, allowing it to remain operational during construction and is arranged in age-specific “Learning Communities.” These communities utilize shared facilities to promote and separate age-appropriate “academic neighborhoods," grade transitions, and internal zoning, all of which are critical in a PK-12 model. In order to accommodate small fluctuating class sizes, individual classrooms have folding partitions to expand as needed. The diverse student population of Moffat comes from a variety of backgrounds and beliefs, which is reflected in the regionally-inspired materials and forms used in the design.
LEED Silver certified, the thermal mass of the exposed polished concrete floors and CMU are designed to absorb the heat from the south glazing and regulate the seasonal temperatures. Also, large curtains expand over the glazed walls to help retain the stored heat during cold nights. Radiant slabs are used in the educational and administration areas to comfortably and efficiently provide heat. A wind analysis was conducted during design to optimize the placement and type of wind breaks to protect students from the harsh winds in play areas.
Project Details
- Square footage: 49,000
- Project cost: $ 13.77M
Design Details
- LEED Silver certified
- Exposed polished concrete floors and CMU block
- 21st Century learning spaces
- Shading devices, thermal curtains, and radiant slabs
- Wind breaks
- High performance mechanical and electrical systems
- Collaborative Design Advisory Group and active community involvement
- Age-specific learning communities
- Regionally inspired materials and forms
- Flexible furnishings
- BEST Grant assistance
- Photography by David Lauer
Recognition
- 2016 Award of Merit, AIA Colorado
- 2016 Honorable Mention, AIA Colorado South Chapter
- 2015 Peak Merit Award, A4LE Rocky Mountain Chapter
- LEED Silver Certification, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)