◆ Architecture
■ Master Planning
● Interior Design
■ Master Planning
● Interior Design
Salida Montessori Charter School
Salida,
Colorado
Located in Salida, the Salida Montessori Charter School (SMCS) offers an authentic Montessori experience for preschool through 8th grade. Since opening in 2015, SMCS quickly reached capacity and had to split students between two buildings. In 2021, they leased the old Catholic school, consolidating 1st-8th grades in one building, while Preschool and Kindergarten remained separate.
K-8 Schools
Project Details
Size: 23,110 sf
Cost: $12M (est.)
Design Details
- BEST Grant Project
- Collaborative design process
- Learning environments that support Montessori learning
- Energy efficient design
The new 23,110 sq ft PK-8 facility includes classrooms for each age group, an exploratory classroom for art and drama, and a large multi-purpose space with a learning stair. Outdoor spaces and connections are essential to Montessori education, and each classroom has a visual or physical connection to the outdoors. The facility will accommodate approximately 180 students.
After completing a master plan, RTA helped SMCS secure a BEST Grant to construct the new school. In a collaborative design process, RTA worked closely with SMCS, the owner’s representative, parents, and community members to design a facility that meets the school’s needs and supports the holistic, self-directed, hands-on learning experience offered by SMCS.
Outdoor learning and playground renderings by Connect One Design.