• Design-Thinking Framework in Action: Chinook Trail Middle School Provides Healthy Positive Spaces

    A recent article by Chinook Trail Middle School Principal Tom Andrew and RTA Principal Brian Calhoun for EdMarket Essentials discusses how the school’s design – top to bottom, inside and outside – supports an open, holistic, positive approach to learning in healthful and empowering ways for students and staff. The three Design Priorities of positive spaces, building and site optimization for learning, and a connection to nature work with the educational program to develop curious design-thinking learners for life.

    Read the full article here.

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  • RTA Celebrates the Ribbon Cutting of the New Chinook Trail Middle School

    After a year of planning and design and 18 months of construction, the new Chinook Trail Middle School in Academy District 20 is open! With colorful biophilic design, flexible furnishings, a Learning Stair, state-of-the-art labs, a Curiosity Center, and daylighting throughout, this project-based learning school will eventually serve over a 1,000 students in northern Colorado Springs. THANK YOU to the hundreds of students, parents, staff, District personnel, and community members who participated in the design process to help create this incredible environment to #BeCurious! 

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  • RTA Celebrates the Ribbon-Cutting of the School in the Woods

    We had a gorgeous day to celebrate the ribbon cutting of Academy District 20's School in the Woods! The school was designed to celebrate the students’ connection to the surroundings and naturalist-based curriculum. We can’t wait to see everything these students will accomplish in their new building!

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  • Holiday Greetings Received from Students at the School in the Woods

    We recently received this card from Academy School District 20's the School in the Woods with the sweetest holiday greetings. It's so rewarding to see happy students on the site of their new school. We love being able to serve Colorado's school districts! Read more about this great project here.

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  • School in the Woods Construction Fly Over

    Big things are happening at Academy District 20's  School in the Woods! Thanks to GE Johnson things are really taking shape, and we are so excited to see the final result. 

  • RTA and Academy School District 20 Break Ground for New School in the Woods

    Academy District 20's School in the Woods groundbreaking ceremony was a huge success! With flexible learning suites, a curiosity center, and (of course) outdoor learning spaces we can't wait to see what the 4th grade Naturalists accomplish in their new school!  Read more about this unique project here. 

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  • RTA Celebrates Groundbreaking of Academy District 20 Chinook Trail Middle School

    Thank you to everyone who came out to celebrate the groundbreaking at the new Chinook Middle School with RTA, MOA Architecture, and Bryan Construction  With flexible learning spaces, new technology, and a maker space, students are sure to reach the peak of excellence! Read more about Academy District 20's new middle school here.

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  • Colorado Schools Strive for Zero Net Energy

    More Colorado schools are pursuing Net Zero Energy goals, including RTA-designed Douglass Elementary in the Boulder Valley School District and School in the Woods in Academy District 20. Read more at Mile High CRE.

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  • School in the Woods Eco-Charrette

    Thank you to everyone who participated in our eco-charrette for Academy District 20's School in the Woods! Teachers, students, parents, alumni, and community members came together with the design team and GE Johnson to brainstorm sustainability and environmental goals for the new school design. We received a lot of valuable input and we can't wait to incorporate the feedback into the final design!

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  • RTA Architects Chosen to Design Two New Academy District 20 Schools

    RTA is excited to announce that we have been chosen to lead the designs of the new School in the Woods and the Middle School at Chinook Trail for Academy School District 20 in Colorado Springs. These are two of the first new schools that are being designed and constructed as a result of the District’s $230M bond passage in November 2016.

    The Middle School at Chinook Trail

    The Middle School at Chinook Trail will be the ninth middle school for the District and will be located on the campus of the existing Chinook Trail Elementary School. The 125,000 square-foot sustainable, energy-efficient, and healthy learning-focused facility will provide 21st Century educational environments to accommodate 1,000 students and is being built in conjunction with Bryan Construction and MOA Architecture. The project will be an expansion of the Chinook Trail Elementary program, featuring close collaboration between the two schools to create a Kindergarten through eighth grade campus.

    The School in the Woods

    The new 14,000-square-foot School in the Woods will replace four existing modular buildings and will increase student capacity and continue to support its robust community outreach program and home school academy. Flexible learning suites, a nature center, outdoor learning spaces, and a library/technology commons will support the School’s academically challenging “naturalist” based curriculum for fourth grade students. Working with GE Johnson Construction Company, the design goal of the new building will be to achieve net zero energy and/or LEED Platinum while existing in harmony with the Black Forest environment. 

    Both projects are currently in the design and preconstruction planning phases. Construction of the new School in the Woods is estimated to be completed in the spring of 2018. The Middle School at Chinook Trail is expected to be completed for the 2019 -2020 school year.

    View the full press release here.