◆ Architecture
■ Master Planning
● Interior Design
■ Master Planning
● Interior Design
Chinook Trail Middle School Interiors
Colorado Springs,
Colorado
To accommodate the needs of the growing northern Colorado Springs community, Academy District 20 awarded the design of the new Chinook Middle School to RTA, in conjunction with MOA Architecture as a joint venture, and Bryan Construction.
The new middle school is a part of the existing Chinook Trail Elementary School, featuring close collaboration between the two schools to create a unified K-8 campus. Designed to educate 1,080 students, the new 125,000-square-foot Chinook Trail Middle School is the most innovative project funded through the District's $230 million bond initiative.
Education
Project Details
- Square footage: 125,000 sf
- Project cost: $41.7M
Design Details
- Designed to WELL Building standards
- Supports project-based learning and design thinking curriculum
- Connection to existing elementary creates a K-8 campus
- 21st Century learning environments
- Outdoor learning spaces and dining patio
- Wellness Center, football field, baseball field, and outdoor track
- Curiosity Center and Learning Stair
- Extensive daylighting and sustainable landscape materials
- Flexible design and furnishings and numerous breakout spaces
- Robust technology
- High-performance, easy-to-maintain materials and systems
- Photography by David Lauer Photography
- Read more about the LYNNEL art products used in this project
Recognition
- 2020 BESTawards LEARN Category Winner, presented by the International Interior Design Association (IIDA) Rocky Mountain Chapter
- 2019 Best Overall Project, presented by the Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA) Rocky Mountain Region
- 2019 Best Education Project, presented by the Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA) Rocky Mountain Region
The floor plan begins with the two-story Welcome Commons. The Curiosity Center, accessed from the Welcome Commons, is a creative hub of activity designed to promote intellectual exploration, content creation, and interactive learning. This colorful, daylit space features flexible furnishings, and a variety of seating types for individuals and small or large groups.
Texture and color highlight the architectural features throughout the building. Dramatic pendant lighting fixtures draw attention to the volume in the two-story Curiosity Center and Welcome Commons. Bold accent colors identify grade level areas, and Colorado-inspired biophilic design including nature-inspired paint colors, earth-toned stained concrete floors, wood-veneer on the Learning Stair, the three-dimensional tree motif in the Curiosity Center, and aspen-themed wall covering.
A Visioning Workshop comprised of 33 attendees - including parents, district leadership, a representative from Colorado Springs Utilities, and the Design Advisory Group (DAG) members - kicked off the design effort to develop and articulate the design goals of the project. The design-build team also used input from the DAG, and more than 100 middle-grade students and multiple District user groups to design this new learning environment that supports project-based learning and design thinking.
Health and wellness, both mental and physical, are prevalent themes in the new school and the school is designed to the WELL Building Standard. Although not pursuing certification, it is the first public school in Colorado designed to this innovative standard.
The design team specified construction materials, finishes, and lighting that were not only aesthetically pleasing but also durable and improved air quality, occupant comfort, and light.
The Chinook Trail Middle School features full athletic facilities and a wellness center where mindfulness is emphasized through such activities as yoga classes.