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Fowler School District R4J Breaks Ground for Building Addition
The Fowler School District R4J, Nunn Construction, and RTA celebrated the groundbreaking for the Jr./Sr. High school addition. This 66,000-sf addition to the south end of the existing elementary school will optimize the use of shared resources and create a safe, unified campus. This project was funded by a community Bond and the BEST program. The design will also provide improved parent drop-off and pick-up, improved playgrounds, a new gymnasium, and a cafeteria with space for community use. Read more about this great project here.
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Cherry Creek School District Cuts the Ribbon for New Woodland Elementary School
The Cherry Creek School District and the community celebrated the completion of the new Woodland Elementary School with a fantastic ribbon-cutting ceremony. The pom squad and band were present to get the crowd fired up for this milestone. Financed through a bond measure to accommodate growth, this 74,000 sf elementary school features innovative 21st Century learning spaces promoting critical thinking, curiosity/inquiry, teamwork, project-based learning, real-world discovery, and problem-solving skills. Read more about this incredible new school here.
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Strasburg Elementary School Construction Update
The addition and renovations at Strasburg Elementary are well underway, and Fransen Pittman captured some excellent drone footage of the construction progress! The cafeteria is being transformed into a gymnasium, a new playground is added, and the 10,000-SF addition includes eight classrooms and breakout spaces for collaboration and group learning. Construction is planned to be finished this summer. Read more about this great project here.
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Fowler School District Featured for Their “College-Going Culture”
The Fowler School District serves students in northwestern Otero County and a small section of Pueblo County. Fewer than half of rural Colorado’s high school graduates go to college, but Fowler has been sending record numbers to college each year. The agriculturally-rich area encourages its youth to expand their knowledge and does this by matching their expectations with plenty of preparation.
The RTA-designed campus consolidation supports this focus on continuing education through the relocation of the Jr./Sr. High School as an addition to the south end of the existing elementary school to create a safe unified campus and to optimize the use of shared resources. The vocational agriculture space in the new addition includes two shop spaces, two classrooms, and an exterior project area. One shop will be dedicated to woodworking and construction trades, while the second shop will be utilized primarily for metal working.
Read more about Fowler’s generations-long “college-going culture” here.
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Celebrating the Groundbreaking of the Nettie S. Freed K-8 Expeditionary School
Another milestone was celebrated for the Pueblo D60 Nettie S. Freed K-8 Expeditionary School at its recent groundbreaking ceremony. Principal Nicolas Roberts, a Pueblo ISD graduate and former Assistant Principal of Pueblo Centennial High School, accepted a plaque to display in the new K-8 to commemorate the event. This is the third project of the RTA/MOA joint venture as a result of the 2019 bond measure. The newly named school is located at the site of the former Heroes K-8 Academy School and brings back a neighborhood school to the community.
The new school is named in honor of the District’s first female superintendent and Colorado’s first Commissioner of Public Education Nettie S. Freed. The school will provide experiential learning opportunities in a technology-rich environment for Career and Technical Education (CTE) career pathways through engaging hands-on learning. Click here to learn more about this great project.
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RTA Projects Win Two 2022 DBIA Rocky Mountain Region Awards
Two RTA-GE Johnson design-build projects were recognized as the best in their categories at the 2022 DBIA Rocky Mountain Region award ceremony. The High Altitude Research Laboratory atop Pikes Peak won Best Government / Municipal Project, and the projects for Canon City Schools - the Canon City Middle School Addition and Renovation and the new Washington Elementary School - won Best Education Project, marking the third in a row that an RTA-designed project has won the Education category!
Thank you to these incredible design and construction teams and our clients who make these great design-build projects possible!
📷 courtesy of GE Johnson
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Harrison High School Named AVID National Demonstration School
Harrison High School, previously renovated by RTA in Harrison District 2, is the fourth school in Colorado to be awarded the status of AVID National Demonstration School after an extensive validation process. The AVID Program (Achievement Via Individual Determination) provides students with opportunities to be college and career ready, and Harrison High School joins an elite group of only 200 National Demonstration Schools in the U.S.
Congratulations Panthers! Learn more here. 👇
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Breaking Ground for the New Pueblo D60 Franklin School of Innovation and Sunset Park Elementary School
Frigid temperatures didn’t dim our excitement in celebrating the for exciting milestones for two new schools designed by the joint venture of RTA and MOA Architecture for Pueblo School District 60, Franklin School of Innovation and Sunset Park Elementary School. A big shout out to Nunn Construction for efficiently moving the festivities indoors! These energy-efficient BEST Grant funded schools are scheduled to open for the 2023 school year.
Read more about the groundbreakings here.
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Cañon City Middle School Featured in Education Snapshots
Thank you to Education Snapshots for the great feature on the Cañon City Middle School Addition and Renovation! Read more about the reimaging and revitalization of this historic school here.
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The ACE Mentor Program Needs You!
RTA is excited to announce our partnership with ACE Mentor Program of Colorado – Colorado Springs. ACE Mentor Program is an after-school mentoring program that is focused on introducing high school students to the fields of architecture, construction, and engineering through project based learning and active engagement with industry professionals.
In addition to our own High School Architecture Class, which will take place in fall of 2022, we will be participating as mentors in the ACE Program. We hope to see you or members of your company joining us as we embark on this wonderful adventure in mentoring! Register as a mentor for Colorado Springs here: https://app.acementor.org/registration/mentor
ACE Mentor Program of America Mission Statement:
To engage, excite and enlighten high school students to pursue careers in architecture, engineering, and construction through mentoring and to support their continued advancement in the industry.
ACE Mentor’s two primary goals are to:
- Create a large, diverse, better-prepared workforce for our industry.
- Assist and guide students as they proceed along their pathways to opportunities in our industry through internships and support.
ACE Mentor Program of America Overview Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPCJcibMj9U&ab_channel=ACEMentorProgramofAmerica-OfficialChannel
ACE Mentor Program – Colorado Springs Info:
Meeting Location: Palmer High School – 301 N. Nevada Ave., Colorado Springs, CO 80903
Meeting Time: 4:45 p.m. – 6:45 p.m. every Tuesday
Start Date: Tuesday, January 18th, 2022
Commitment: 15-week program, end date/final presentation at CU Denver TBD -
Newton Middle School Awarded Outstanding Middle School Design by American School & University
Thank you to American School & University for awarding Newton Middle School with Outstanding Middle School Design! Thank you also to Jacobs and Littleton Public Schools for the partnership that resulted in this incredible facility. Check out the article here!
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RTA Architects Receives Top Honors from the Construction Specifications Institute for Environmental Stewardship
We are pleased to announce that RTA has been recognized with an Environmental Stewardship Award from the Construction Specifications Institute (CSI). RTA was nominated for its work on the new Pikes Peak Summit Complex and the project’s pursuit of Living Building Challenge certification and for its work on the new East Side Clinic for Pueblo Community Health Center and the project’s pursuit of Zero Energy certification.
Read the full press release here.
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A4LE Facility Tour: Newton Middle School
It was a pleasure partnering with Littleton Public Schools and Jacobs to tour other architects and educational facility planners from across the country through the newly constructed Newton Middle School! Newton was selected as a tour destination during this year’s Association for Learning Environments (A4LE) LearningSCAPES Conference, and we were so happy to see teachers, staff, and students using the new facility to its full potential!
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Newton Middle School Celebrates Grand Opening
What better than a beautiful Friday evening for the ribbon cutting and grand-opening ceremony for the new middle school facility for Littleton Public Schools. The 160,000-sf replacement for Newton Middle School was part of the 2018 Bond program. Designed with student centric learning in mind, this school features classroom pods with flex breakout spaces, a learning stair, maker spaces, a cafetorium, outdoor learning spaces, and professional development spaces for LPS teachers. The design also includes space for the District’s NOVA and BEST programs which serve K-12 students with special social and emotional needs and students with autism. Read more about this great project here.
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RTA Sponsors Harrison School District 2 Golf Tournament
We were very excited to support Harrison School District 2 and sponsor their annual golf tournament. Great day at Arrowhead Golf Club!
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Groundbreaking for Cherry Creek Schools New Elementary School
We were so excited to celebrate the groundbreaking of Cherry Creek School District's new elementary school #45 with the District, community members, and JHL Constructors!
The new elementary school will serve approximately 650 students and promote innovative thinking and problem solving skills with a maker space, Gym-a-torium with a performance stage and competitive size basketball court, indoor-outdoor dining spaces, an art room, library, and age-appropriate learning communities. Read more about this exciting project here!
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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.
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Lake City Community School Winner of A4LE Rocky Mountain Summit Design Award
We are honored that the Association for Learning Environments (A4LE) Rocky Mountain Chapter awarded the Lake City Community School with the Summit Design Award for Renovations! Constructed on the site of the original 1880s brick school house, the Lake City Community School is a PK-12 school serving students in the Hinsdale County School District and is one of the earliest schools on Colorado’s Western Slope.
RTA worked closely with the District and the Lake City community to design an addition and renovation to enhance security, health, and safety of staff and students while still maintaining the character of the historic school site and neighborhood. The design team also highlighted the breathtaking natural beauty of Hinsdale County throughout the interior of the building. Read more about this incredible project here.
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Photo Tour of UCCS William J. Hybl Sports Medicine and Performance Center
The photo tour of the William J. Hybl Sports Medicine and Performance Centerwas just published at Healthcare Snapshots! Learn more about how this one-of-a-kind facility promotes synergies between UCCS academics and Centura Health sports medicine clinical treatment. It also supports treatment and training for first responders and athletes and active individuals with physical disabilities including para-athletes and wounded military veterans.
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Chinook Trail Middle School Wins IIDA Rocky Mountain Chapter BESTaward
Chinook Trail Middle School took home the BESTaward in the LEARN category of the 2020 IIDA Rocky Mountain Chapter awards. The middle school, designed by the joint venture of RTA/MOA, was noted for its biophilic design focused on the health and well-being of students and staff and its dynamic project-based learning environment. The full award ceremony and list of all winning projects can be viewed here
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William J. Hybl Center is "First of it's kind"
The William J. Hybl Sports Medicine and Performance Center at UCCS continues to make news! Check out the article in Building Design and Construction Magazine which highlights some of the features of this unique, multi-disciplinary facility.
The article notes the unique integration of collision spaces and multi-partner integration make the center "a first-of-its-kind facility".
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Fairview High School Honored with ENR Mountain States Award of Merit
RTA is excited to share that the Fairview High School Renovations project, completed with Adolfson & Peterson Construction in 2019, has been honored by Engineering News-Record Mountain States with a K-12 Award of Merit. The 107,000 sf renovation for the Boulder Valley School District updated the 1970’s era-building to reorganize classrooms, add a gym, revamp the admin offices and incorporate a modern auditorium. The renovations were carried out through multiple phase construction to avoid disrupting the academic year. The renovated building now serves over 2,000 students.
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Chinook Trail Middle School Featured in Education Snapshots
Chinook Trails Middle School was recently featured in Education Snapshots, with a full photo tour of the facility. The article explores the design and innovation of the building, which was completed in 2019.
Check out the photo tour here.
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Drone Footage Shows Off the Nearly Completed Lake City Community School
The Lake City Community School is months away from completion! During a recent site visit, Construction Administrator Darren Rouse got a great bird’s eye view of the progress using his drone. The footage he captured highlights the renovated facility and stunning views. The Lake City school will serve over a hundred students upon completion. We are excited to be bringing this project to a close!
Click here to learn more about how the school will provide a safer and improved learning environment for students.
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The William J. Hybl Sports Medicine and Performance Center Opens
The UCCS William J. Hybl Sports Medicine and Performance Center has opened its doors for clinical patients!. A few weeks before completion, our staff got to tour this incredible project to view the results of all our hard work.
The William J. Hybl Sports Medicine and Performance Center integrates medical research, performance, instruction, and patient education. Part of the building is dedicated to medical care and sports performance training, overseen by Centura Health. The other half of the building consists of UCCS lecture halls, classrooms, and specialty exercise areas, including a biomechanics lab and altitude chamber. Our staff has been honored to partner with HOK and JE Dunn to bring this City for Champions project to life. The academic side of the facility will finish later this summer in time for the start of UCCS’ academic year.
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UCCS William J. Hybl Sports Medicine and Performance Center Construction Nears Completion
The innovative and highly anticipated William J. Hybl Sports Medicine and Performance Center is nearing completion at UCCS. Two of the four floors have received their final quality review by the design team, and the parking lot and sidewalks are being finished. Centura and UCCS will move equipment into the building mid to late May. The clinic is anticipated to open soon and will be occupied by UCCS students in the fall.
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Newton Middle School Ground Breaking
While we weren’t able to celebrate the groundbreaking of the new Newton Middle School in person, we’re certainly sending out lots of virtual cheers! Congratulations to Littleton Public Schools on this important milestone!
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Two RTA School Designs Achieve LEED Certification
The Center for Green Schools recently featured two RTA-designed schools that achieved LEED certification in 2019. View slides 12-15 in the slideshow to see the LEED Gold Palmer Hall for the Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind and the LEED Silver Moffat PK-12 School.
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D20 Building Committee Creates Diorama of School in the Woods
The Academy District 20 Building Committee created this diorama of the new School in the Woodsfrom graham crackers, royal icing, and candy. We think it's pretty amazing!
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UCCS William J. Hybl Sports Medicine & Performance Center Featured in ENR Magazine
This month’s ENR and ENR Mountain States magazines highlight the RTA and HOK-designed William J. Hybl Sports Medicine and Performance Center at UCCS. Currently under construction, it will promote synergies between academics and Centura Health sports-medicine-based clinical treatment. It will also support treating and training for first responders and athletes and active individuals with physical disabilities including para-athletes and wounded military veterans. Read the full article about this one-of-a-kind facility here! https://www.enr.com/articles/48653-sports-medicine-connects-with-higher-education-at-new-uccs-hybl-center.
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Newton Middle School Fly Through
Take a look inside the design of the new Newton Middle School for Littleton Public Schools! This new school – funded by the District’s 2018 bond and scheduled to open in 2021 - features classroom pods with flex breakout spaces, a learning stair, maker spaces, a cafetorium, outdoor learning spaces, and professional development spaces for LPS teachers. The design also includes space for the District’s NOVA and BEST programs which serve K-12 students with special social and emotional needs and students with autism. Read more about this incredible project here.
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Lake City Community School Continues to Progress
Construction on the Hinsdale County School District Lake City Community School is well underway! Despite snow and chilly conditions, significant progress has been made on the framing, insulation, roof, and windows. The renovation is expected to be complete for the start of the 2020 school year. Read more about this exciting project here.
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Chinook Trail Middle School Wins 2 Awards from DBIA Rocky Mountain Chapter
We are excited to announce that the Chinook Trail Middle School project has received two awards from the Design-Build Institute of America Rocky Mountain Chapter! This incredible project won the Education Category as well as the overall Best Project. Congratulations to the hardworking team!
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Pikes Peak Summit Complex and Hybl Sports Medicine and Performance Center Featured at AGC Southern Happy Hour & Project Spotlight
RTA was proud to be a sponsor for recent AGC Happy Hour & Project Spotlight that highlighted the progress of the Pikes Peak Summit Complex and UCCS William J. Hybl Sports Medicine and Performance Center projects and some of the cutting-edge technology being used in the construction processes. Thank you to JE Dunn, GE Johnson, Centura Health, and UCCS for their presentations and to everyone who attended!
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The MILL Voted one of the Best Trade Schools in Colorado Springs
The Manufacturing Industry Learning Lab (MILL)was named one of the best trade schools in Colorado Springs! This year it received Silver in the Colorado Springs Independent Best of Colorado Springs reader poll. The RTA-designed MILL is a partnership between the Peyton School District and Widefield School District that provides an opportunity for students to learn advanced woods manufacturing and construction. Congratulations!
Read the full article here.
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RTA Presents Canon City Middle and Elementary School Designs to Cañon City Rotary Club
RTA’s Doug Abernethy and Christine Costa recently presented the Cañon City Middle School and Washington Elementary designs to the Cañon City Rotary Club. Learn more about these exciting projects here.
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Jones and Palmer Halls Receive Historic Preservation Alliance Award of Excellence
We are happy to announce that the Jones Hall and Palmer Hall projects have received an Award of Excellence for the Civic Restoration of a Historic Building from the Historic Preservation Alliance of Colorado Springs! Located on the Colorado Springs School for the Deaf and Blind campus, both buildings had deteriorated from their initial construction in the early 1900s. The recent renovations brought new life to the historic buildings while maintaining their historic character. Congrats to the hardworking teams!
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William J. Hybl Sports Medicine and Performance Center Featured in UCCS Faculty Speaker Series
Our thanks to UCCS Office of Alumni Relations & Annual Giving for featuring the William J. Hybl Sports Medicine and Performance Center as part of their Faculty Speaker Series. This week Matt Vineyard, Sr. Project Manager at JE Dunn and Dr. Steve Johnson, Professor, Clinical Practice Track, Human Physiology & Nutrition gave a presentation on the progress of this great project. We love it when our clients and their builder take ownership of our design! Read more about the Hybl project here.
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Hinkley High School in the News
Our thanks to Nicole Brady with Denver Channel 7 for a recent story on upgrades happening in Aurora Public Schools, including the RTA-designed Hinkley High School addition. As the new school year kicks off, students across the District are returning to improved school buildings thanks to a $300 million bond passed by voters in 2016. Read the full story and watch the segment 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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UCCS William J. Hybl Sports Medicine and Performance Center Tops Out
It was a beautiful day to celebrate with the University of Colorado Colorado Springs, JE Dunn Construction, and Centura Health as the last structural beam of the new RTA and HOK-designed William J. Hybl Sports Medicine and Performance Center was put in place. This marks the halfway point for this City for Champions project!
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Lake City Historic Cupola Removal
So much progress is being made in the Hinsdale County School District! The historic Lake City Community School Cupola has successfully been removed from the old building and will be installed on the new building next year in time for the 2020 school year.
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William J. Hybl Sports Medicine and Performance Center Construction Progress
So much progress is being made at UCCS’ William J. Hybl Sports Medicine and Performance Center! With foundations wrapping up this week, and steel erection underway, it won’t be long until this City for Champions project is complete.
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The "Game Changing" UCCS Hybl Sports Medicine and Performance Center
We are delighted to be supporting the growth of Colorado Springs as both citizens and designers as Architect of Record of the Hybl Sports Medicine and Performance Center! Read more about this exciting addition to the City for Champions here courtesy of Colorado Springs Chamber & EDC.
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Jones Hall Certified LEED Gold
We are ecstatic to say that the Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind's Jones Hall has been LEED Gold Certified! Thanks to everyone who had a hand in making this project a success.
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Hinsdale County School District Passes Bond
Congratulations to the Hinsdale County School District! On November 6 voters approved a $3.95 million bond to be matched by a $9.4 million state-funded BEST grant to address security, safety, and health concerns at Lake City Community School. Read more about this exciting project here.
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Standing Room Only at the UCCS William J. Hybl Sports Medicine and Performance Center Groundbreaking
It was standing-room only at the groundbreaking celebration for the new William J. Hybl Sports Medicine and Performance Center at UCCS that is poised to transform education, research, and healthcare for athletes of all levels, active individuals with disabilities, elite military, and first responders. We were thrilled to celebrate this milestone with the university and Penrose-St. Francis Health Services, Centura Health, and our design-build partners HOK Architects and JE Dunn Construction. Visit our page for more updates on this great project!
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Jones and Palmer Halls Ribbon Cutting
We had a wonderful weekend celebrating the ribbon cutting for TWO completed projects on one very special campus. The Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind provides specialized education services and we are honored to have a role in their growing campus. At more than 12,000 SF, Jones Hall houses the Colorado Instructional Materials Center as well as VIP rooms for campus guests and a low vision clinic. In addition, a full renovation of the 15,000+ SF Palmer Hall was completed and hosts CSDB's "Bridges to Life" program which serves students between the ages of 18 and 21 and seeks to bridge the gap between high school and the real world, emphasizing education, employment, and independence. Congratulations CSDB!
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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.
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World Compass Academy Ribbon Cutting
Parents, students, educators, and community members gathered this week to celebrate the completed addition at World Compass Academy! The 23,000 SF addition includes new classrooms, a new lunchroom, art room, science facilities, and administrative spaces. We can't wait to see all of the wonderful things students will accomplish in this new space!
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Cañon City Schools secure BEST Grant with Community Support
We love helping clients reach their goals! Read about how the Cañon City Schools community support secured more than $46 million in grants for district-wide improvements here.
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Ouray School's Metal Roof is Making Headlines
After the second winter for the renovated Ouray School, the success of the new metal roof is already making headlines! You can read about why RTA chose the sloped roof and how it is impacting the Ouray school here.
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MILL featured in Woodshop News
The MILL (Manufacturing Industry Learning Lab) was featured in the December issue of Woodshop News! Read the full article here.
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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 Principal Stuart Coppedge Presents at EDspaces 2017
Congratulations to RTA Principal Stuart Coppedge on his successful EDsession at EDspaces 2017 Our prayers and best wishes go out for Ignacio School District Superintendent Rocco Fuschetto, who was supposed to tell the Ignacio story with Stuart but fell seriously ill. If you missed the presentation you can read more about the Ignacio elementary, middle school, and high school.
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Peyton and Widefield School Districts Celebrate the Opening of the MILL National Training Center
What an incredible turnout at the MILL (Manufacturing Industry Learning Lab) National Training Center open house! This joint effort was made possible through many industry partners, dedicated staff and students in a remarkable example of collaboration. Learn more about the MILL 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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RTA Principal Stuart Coppedge Leading AIA K-12 Initiative
As a new school year begins, The American Institute of Architects (AIA) continues its board-level commitment to engage the K-12 community like never before. The AIA K-12 Initiative - led by RTA Principal and Chair of the K-12 Working Group Stuart Coppedge, AIA, LEED AP - is working to bring architecture to students of all demographics and income groups.
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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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Vista PEAK Preparatory Additions Underway
Take a look at the exciting changes at Vista Peak Preparatory! This addition will add classrooms, a cafeteria commons expansion, and a new wrestling and weight room. Work is slated to be complete summer 2018 and will increase the capacity from 1,350 to 2,250 students.
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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.
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John Adams Elementary Peace Path
It was a beautiful morning to paint a mural at John Adams Elementary School! The "Peace Path" is a colorful visual tool staff can use to help students calmly "step through" the conflict resolution process. We can't wait for students to have access to it this coming school year!
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Cherry Creek Academy Gymnasium Demolition
Demolition is underway at Cherry Creek Academy. It's exciting to see the old gym-a former church sanctuary that had served Cherry Creek Academy for many years-torn down to make room for the new RTA-designed gymnasium and class rooms. We can't wait to show you the final product next June!
Cherry Creek Academy Demolition from RTA Architects on Vimeo.
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RTA Working with Historic Colorado School for The Deaf and The Blind on Major Updates
The Colorado Springs Gazette visited the Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind to learn how RTA is working to maintain the historic value of the campus while providing much-needed upgrades. Read the full article here: http://gazette.com/historic-colorado-school-for-the-deaf-and-the-blind-receiving-major-updates/article/1604475
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John Adams Elementary STEAM Lab
Hear what students are saying about the STEAM lab in John Adams Elementary!
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Moffat Featured on cover of School Planning and Management Magazine!
RTA's design of the elementary playground for the Moffat PK-12 School was featured on the cover of School Planning & Management Magazine! Read more about this award-winning project here:
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RTA's education projects continue to make news!
RTA's projects for Colorado Springs District 11's John Adams Elementary and the Colorado Springs School for the Deaf and the Blind's Jones and Palmer Halls continue to make the news. Read more about these great projects here.
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Ouray PK-12 Ribbon Cutting
The newly renovated Ouray PK-12 School is back in session! After all of the hard work, RTA was proud to attend the Ouray School District ribbon cutting ceremony. Originally constructed in 1936, the transformed school has already made the start of the 2016-2017 school year a great one.
Congratulations Ouray!
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Ouray PK-12 Celebrates the New School Year
We love to see happy clients in completed projects! Check out Ouray's Principal and Superintendent Scott Pankow welcome the community to the fully renovated PK-12 school for the 2016-2017 year.
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RTA's renovation of John Adams Elementary greets students for new school year
The first day of school for students at John Adams Elementary on August 18th will mark a new beginning for students and staff. District 11 Selected RTA Architects and Nunn Construction to completely renovate the school, which had not been in use by the District for about five years. We had a great time at the ribbon-cutting ceremony and are honored to have played a part in this great school's future.
District 11 Students Get a New School Experience
Colorado Springs, CO—The first day of school for students at John Adams Elementary on August 18th will mark a new beginning for students and staff. District 11 selected RTA Architects and Nunn Construction to completely renovate the school, which had not been in use by the District for about five years.
The District 11 school board voted last February to close Helen Hunt Elementary because the building is in need of an estimated $14 million in repairs. The building is planned for conversion to a community center by the Lane Foundation, and RTA has been retained as the architect-of-record. The 400 students from Helen Hunt who will now attend John Adams Elementary are in for a treat.
RTA’s Principal-in-Charge, Brian Calhoun, said it has been exciting to see the transformation at the school over the last three months. The design for the renovation focused on improved student safety and enriched learning environments. The school’s exterior will feature a welcoming layered entry canopy, an improved protected drop-off, outdoor seating areas, expanded parking, a new roof, new playgrounds and shade structures, and a synthetic turf play area.
The interior features new finishes that bring welcoming warmth of color and pattern. All classrooms received new lighting, and a new controlled entry vestibule will enhance safety. A full service kitchen will offer the opportunity for scratch cooking. A new mechanical system will provide air conditioning, while new windows will improve thermal performance of the building. New security systems, fire alarm, and technology upgrades are also in place.
Among the new technology assets at John Adams are flat panel interactive boards in classrooms combined with traditional white boards to give teachers and students more options at their disposal. Classrooms will feature advanced ergonomic furniture that will allow children more freedom of movement. This year, every 3rd, 4th, and 5th grader will also be given their own tablet computer for use during the school year. Kindergarten through 2nd graders will have access to six iPad Minis in each classroom.
The library will welcome students with a large entryway that can be closed with a glass overhead door when a quiet environment is needed. The ceilings were removed in a portion of the space to create an expansive feel that now incorporates daylight and views to the outside. The space will utilize flexible furniture systems that allow the room
to be quickly and easily reconfigured. A computer lab is connected to the library with a large glass overhead door that can open and expand the size of the library.
Calhoun commented, “RTA and the entire design team is excited for the students and staff of John Adams. The District worked extremely hard with us to provide a superior design for a safe and productive educational experience.”
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Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind is making headlines!
The Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind in Colorado Springs is a school intentionally designed with the unique needs of the students and staff in mind. With the collaborative effort of community members, staff, students, and board members, the renovation of the 58-year-old Gottlieb Building was completed in 2011 and has been serving the children of Colorado ever since. Click here to find out more!
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Extra! Extra! Mapleton Early Childhood Center is in the news!
In 2013, Boulder’s iconic Mapleton School was repurposed into an early childhood education center. The project was featured in the CEFPI Educational Facility Planner magazine Volume 49 Issue 1. To learn about how this historic school was preserved and transformed, click here.
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Ignacio Elementary awarded LEED Gold
Ignacio Elementary School was recently certified LEED Gold by the U.S. Green Building Council. The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System is a point-based benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of high-performance green buildings. LEED Gold status illustrates a very high level of sustainability.
Ignacio’s PK-5 Elementary School is the second building in district-wide Master Plan led by RTA. This Master Plan included the renovation of three existing school buildings and the design of a brand new middle school. In the second phase of the Master Plan, the existing intermediate (grades 4-6) building was renovated into what is now Ignacio Elementary. Existing and new classrooms were designed as flexible learning spaces with enhanced acoustics, daylighting through tubular daylighting devices and expansive exterior windows, and the ability to accommodate current and future technology upgrades. The high-performing, sustainable facility also uses a Geo Exchange System, a roof-mounted 50kW Photovoltaic Array, LED lighting throughout, and low-water native plants for landscaping.
The implementation of LEED sustainability standards is important to reduce the building’s impact on the environment, to improve operating costs, and, most importantly, to create an environment that produces happier, healthier, and more productive students. High-performing facilities can improve comfort, promote learning, and advance productivity, while saving energy and doing what is right for our community. RTA chooses to live by these principles because they help create exceptional architecture.
Ignacio School District 11-JT is proud of their new elementary school because it reflects their values and aspirations.
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A ten-year dream becomes a reality at Swallows Charter Academy
Swallows Charter Academy, home of the Spartans, is a K-12 school located in Pueblo West, Colorado. For ten long years, students, staff, and community members have dreamed of having an on-campus gym built for the charter school, and this dream became a reality in time for school to begin this fall. RTA Architects is honored to have worked so closely with SCA staff and community members from the surrounding area to help accomplish this dream.
On September 10th, Dr. Cindy Compton, SCA Director, led a long-anticipated ribbon cutting for the opening of their new gymnasium, locker rooms, and a kitchen and commons area. Important staff and community members, such as SCA Board of Directors member Mr. Mason Young, SCA Building Corporation member Mrs. Liz Lutz-Essenburg, Director of School Services Mrs. Katheryn Meyer, and Project Manager at H.W. Houston Construction Mark Taravella, attended the event. Compton pointed out that the kindergarteners, who so sweetly sat with ear-to-ear grins on their faces during the ceremony, would be the first class to have a sports facility for their entire school career.
The completion of this building is a huge accomplishment for SCA and many people are overjoyed to see it finished. However, students, staff, and members of the community look forward to the future as this project is only the first phase of a larger plan for the entire school. Swallows Charter will continue to pursue funding for further renovation of their educational building.
Swallows Charter Academy did not only gain a new facility in this process, but also a newfound sense of pride. The school as a whole now has a greater, fuller identity and students are proud to play sports on their home turf.
RTA staff members Allison Johnson and Alex Asmus participated in the event and were filled with red, white, and blue school spirit. RTA cannot wait to come back and cheer on the Spartans to victory!
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"Every vote counts!" - Ignacio High School is open
On Saturday August 15, 2015, Ignacio High School held its grand opening and ceremonial ribbon cutting. Superintendent Rocco Fuschetto led the ceremony, and dignitaries such as Colorado State Representative J. Paul Brown, Mayor of Ignacio Stella Cox, President of Fort Lewis College Dr. Dene Kay Thomas, and several Sothern Ute Tribal Council representatives participated in the event.
Design for this project began in January of 2012 and was completed over a year-and-a-half later in November of 2013. Construction began in March of 2014 and finished this month. Interestingly, while construction was in process, high school students were housed in the old elementary school building, which was empty because the new, RTA-designed elementary school was finished in 2013. Obviously, this was not an ideal situation for growing high school kids. However, students are now more excited than ever to be in their new school.
A unique part of this project’s story is that the bond to fund the design and construction of the new elementary, middle, and high school buildings passed by a single vote. Now Ignacio School District reminds everyone that “Every vote counts!” Another unique element of this project is that the new high school combines the previous middle school and high school buildings into one unified facility. Also, there are historic elements from the old building included in the new school, such as the gymnasium and tile mosaics. One of the biggest changes to the old building is improved student security and site circulation through distinguishable parking and drop-off areas, a recognizable main entrance, and overall enhanced organization.
Several unique highlights of the new school’s design include a state-of-the-art auditorium to support the growing performing arts program, synthetic turf football and baseball fields, and Southern Ute Bear Dance photographs that were digitized into dramatic graphics and strategically placed throughout the school.
RTA staff members Stuart Coppedge, Brian Calhoun, Ken Gregg, Greg Johnson, and Rick Taves had the privilege of participating in the event and enjoyed touring the new high school with the proud Ignacio community.
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New beginnings in Moffat, Colorado
We are excited to announce that Moffat PK-12, located in rural Southern Colorado, held its grand opening on August 7th, 2015 with a ceremonial ribbon cutting. Almost 100 staff members, students, and community members joined together in a joyous celebration of the beautiful, new PK-12 school. Superintendent Kirk Bangheart led the ribbon cutting ceremony and a large group of children and adults cut the iconic red ribbon with eagerness.
RTA is extremely proud of the close working relationships that were developed with the administration, staff, and students during this two-year project to create a special building that is unique to Moffat. RTA team members Scott Schuster, Garik Rowe, Rick Taves, Greg Johnson, Doug Abernethy, Ken Gregg, Katie Hawkes, and James McConnell attended the event and felt a sense of achievement as they walked around the finished project.
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RTA noted in Colorado Construction & Design
The design and construction team of the award winning Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind Expansion and Renovation is featured in the September issue of Colorado Construction & Design. Article on page 34.
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RTA is excited to work with Ouray School District on their Master Plan!
RTA was recently awarded the Ouray School District Master Plan project. Find out more about the project in the article in the Ouray County Plaindealer.
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Wide-open experience at the Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind
RTA was featured in the Colorado Real Estate Journal as the selected architect for the challenging project of renovating the Colorado School for the Deaf and Blind.
“Two of the most important goals for the renovated building were an open design that would facilitate better visibility and communication for the deaf community, and flexible spaces that could be used for multiple purposes at any given time,” noted Stuart Coppedge, AIA, RTA’s principal in-charge for Gottlieb.
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Forward looking Ignacio Elementary School well received
Excerpt from article by Melanie Mazur, as published in the Durango Herald:
New Ignacio school buildings built for future; they incorporate energy efficiency, technology, comfort.
How do you build schools that provide a better learning experience for students and teachers?
In the process of creating three new school buildings, for about $50 million, the Ignacio School District built them with energy efficiency, natural light and technology to create a better experience for students.
It’s far different from the buckets lining the hallway that collected water from leaking ceilings. That’s what used to greet students when they walked through the door at Ignacio High School.
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RTA's Gottlieb project to be featured at a Colorado Preservation conference
The Gottlieb project will be featured among other projects at a Colorado Preservation conference called “Saving Places” in Denver Feb 6-7. The Gottlieb building is the campus hub of the Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind. The excerpt from the session is below. The link to the web site is: http://coloradopreservation.org/saving-places-conference/
F1. Sympathetic Additions to Historic and Existing Buildings AIA/CES 1.25
The 21st century has brought us some incredible architectural work, destined to be the landmarks of tomorrow. But at the same time, there is a growing appreciation for the classic architecture of the past, and reverence for the detail and order that historic buildings teach us. Preservationists and architectural historians are sometimes alarmed by the idea of additions to those historic buildings, often with good reason. Enlightened minds recognize that buildings and cities are not static or frozen in time. There are new needs and programs that require more and different space. The Secretary of the Interior’s Standards can guide – or discourage – high quality architectural solutions. Standard #9 states, “…The new work shall be differentiated from the old and shall be compatible with historic massing, size, scale, and architectural features to protect the historic integrity of the property and its environment.” Through case studies of award-winning projects — commercial, institutional and residential — the presenters will attempt to convince you that a project can be both sympathetic AND different. You are encouraged to come to an image-rich, fast-paced presentation that will attempt to lay out the problems and conundrums of reworking with historic buildings for new uses, and share dozens of successful solutions from around the country. Speakers: Doug Walter, AIA, Senior Architect, Godden/Sudik Architects; Nan Anderson, AIA, founding principal of Anderson Hallas Architects, P.C.
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Four Colorado school projects opening across the state
RTA announced the completion of four Colorado school projects opening across the state last month. The four schools span the State of Colorado and welcomed students returning to school for the 2013-2014 school year. The four newly designed schools are:
- Boulder Valley School District’s Mapleton Early Childhood Center
- Calhan School District’s PK-12 school
- Ignacio Middle School, in southwestern Colorado
- Holly School, in southeastern Colorado
RTA’s design team Doug Abernethy and Mike Riggs, along with RTA’s joint venture partner Alan Ford Architects, attended a ribbon cutting ceremony for the Mapleton Early Childhood Education Center to mark the school's opening. They were joined by Adolfson & Peterson Construction, school staff, parents, students, and members of the community. This $4 million project transformed the historic Mapleton School into Boulder Valley School District’s first early education center.
Calhan School’s ribbon cutting ceremony marked the reopening of their PK-12 building and was attended by RTA’s design team Brian Calhoun, Mike Riggs, and Ken Gregg. Also attending were GH Phipps Construction, Vanir Construction Management, school staff, parents, students, and community members. The $2 million project was funded in part by a BEST grant and provided needed upgrades and improvements to Calhan’s PK-12 building.
An opening ceremony was held on August 29 for Ignacio Middle School. The new school is a dynamic, energy-efficient 21st century learning environment reflecting the community’s multi-cultural heritage and is the first phase of a district-wide master plan completed by RTA Architects in 2011. The school was built by FCI Constructors of Durango.
Holly School District’s $24 million BEST grant project provided for a new PK-12 school, athletic fields and a renovated vocational technical building. In addition to the new state-of-the-art gymnasium, the existing historic WPA-era gymnasium was preserved and renovated. Construction was recently completed by Adolfson & Peterson Construction of Denver.
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RTA and Calhan School District celebrate completion
RTA and the Calhan School District celebrated the completion of their recent PK-12 renovation project with a ribbon cutting ceremony on August 21, 2013. RTA began the design on the $2 million project in January 2013; and after four months of construction, the school was ready for students heading back to school for the 2013-2014 school year.
Funded in part by a BEST grant, the project provided needed upgrades and improvements to Calhan’s PK-12 building including fire alarm upgrades, emergency egress lighting, surge suppression on the electric service, exit doors at the auxiliary gym and a new public address system. Building additions provided a new security vestibule and relocated administration area while renovated areas include the media center, technology lab and classrooms.
RTA’s design team of Brian Calhoun, Mike Riggs, and Ken Gregg attended the ribbon cutting ceremony, along with GH Phipps Construction, Vanir Construction Management, school staff, parents, students, and members of the community.
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Eagle Crest High School's $8.4 million renovation
RTA provided design services on this fast-track project for Cherry Creek School District that includes interior finish renovations, mechanical system renovations and roof replacement. The design team, led by Doug Abernethy, Principal/Project Manager, includes Ken Gregg, Project Architect; Greg Johnson, Interior Design; and Don McReynolds, Construction Administrator. Adolfson & Peterson Construction recently began construction with expected completion in early August.
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Paradox Valley School addition and renovation is underway
Read the following article from the Montrose Daily Press, Paradox Valley School begins facelift next week.
In 2010, RTA was commissioned to provide master planning and conceptual design services in support of a BEST Grant Application for the Paradox Valley School. This arts-focused charter school located in the West End School District serves approximately 50 children in the remote community of Paradox, Colorado. RTA spent several days in the community learning about this unique school and its culture of performing arts-based education. With the design committee, RTA explored a number of diverse options to address the major facility and programmatic deficiencies that existed. With detailed knowledge of the school, community, and existing facilities, RTA was able to propose a creative solution that will enhance the educational environment, address key facility needs, and satisfy the need for an economical solution.
With the assistance of RTA, Paradox Valley School was successful in their BEST Grant Application and received the requested grant. Construction and occupancy of the new facility is planned for August of 2013.
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Vista Peak Preparatory School Certified LEED Gold by the USGBC
Vista Peak Preparatory School was recently certified LEED Gold by the U.S. Green Building Council. The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System is a point-based benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of high-performance green buildings. LEED Gold status illustrates a very high level of sustainability.
RTA in partnership with MOA Architecture designed the new Aurora high school which was completed in 2011. As the first new high school designed for Aurora Public Schools in over 30 years, considerable effort went into making sure the school represents the state-of-the-art in terms of educational philosophy, building performance and building flexibility. Developed on the 100-acre Aurora Public Schools Educational Campus, the high school shares a cohesive campus plan with a Pre-K through eighth grade school, and a future district stadium. Planning for the site included a Joint Use Facility for higher education and Public Recreation Center or Library.
The APS High School is designed to minimize energy use and provide sustainable architecture focused on the success of students and the community. Displacement ventilation systems deliver air to students in a quieter and more efficient way. Utilizing daylighting in almost all classrooms enhances the interior environment, saves energy, and improves student performance. Use of native landscape materials on site reduces water use and the building becomes a teaching tool with its green roof system and photovoltaic array located within an extraordinary outdoor science classroom.
Other teaching tools include a Green Touch Screen located on the school site which allows visitors, users, students and staff to view specific green building practices and live updated operational data; and Sustainability Case Study which is available for anyone interested in reading about the environmental practices implemented in the project.
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Award Winning School Design Presented by AIA Colorado South
The American Institute of Architects (AIA), Colorado South Chapter, Colorado South Chapter, recognized its 2012 architectural design award recipients during a ceremony on Friday, Aug. 24, at the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado. RTA was selected from twelve entries submitted by architect members of AIA Colorado South. The awards were presented by Jury Chair David Tryba, FAIA.
RTA Architects received the Honor Award for Built Architecture for The Gottlieb Building Addition & Renovations (Colorado Springs School for the Deaf and the Blind, Colorado Springs, Colorado). Click HERE to see more about RTA's award winning design of the Gottlieb Building.RTA Architects received the Merit Award for Built Architecture for the Bear Creek Elementary School Addition/Renovation (Boulder, CO). RTA has long-standing experience in Boulder, and has partnered on multiple school design projects with the Boulder Valley School District. Click HERE to see more about RTA's award winning design at Bear Creek Elementary School.
For more than 150 years, members of The American Institute of Architects (AIA) have worked with each other and their communities to create more valuable, healthy, secure and sustainable buildings and cityscapes. AIA Colorado South is one of four chapters within the AIA Colorado component. This chapter is comprised of members from 18 counties in south and southeastern Colorado and includes the cities of Colorado Springs, Alamosa, Pueblo and La Junta.
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Jefferson High School celebrates new RTA-designed Science Wing
A ribbon cutting for the new RTA-designed science facilities at Jefferson High School was featured in the Jeffco School Quarterly. The RTA Education Team for the Jeffco project consisted of Brian Calhoun, Paul Reu, Rick Taves, Greg Johnson, and Scott Schuster all participated in the project.
See the Jeffco newsletter article HERE.
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A Big Winner? Gottleib project entered in Armstrong contest
The Gottlieb Addition/Renovation at the Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind is featured on the Armstrong 'Ideas 2 Reality' site.
In September 2011, The Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind held a Grand Opening to celebrate this 21st Century learning facility which was designed in cooperation with the Colorado Historic Society and the design team worked closely with the Governors Energy Office.
The project is entered in the I2R contest for ceiling and wall elements which feature Armstrong products.
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Award-Winning school design - Arapahoe Ridge project honored
The American Institute of Architects (AIA), Colorado South Chapter, recognized its 2011 architectural design awards recipients during a ceremony on Friday, Aug. 19, at the Edith Kinney Gaylord Cornerstone Arts Center on the Colorado College campus in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
AIA Honor Award for Built Architecture
RTA architects Michael Riggs and Doug Abernethy attended the ceremony and received the Honor Award for Built Architecture for Arapahoe Ridge High School (Boulder, Colorado). RTA was selected from nine entries submitted by architect members of AIA Colorado South. The awards were presented by Jury Chair Michael Crow, AIA.
RTA has longstanding experience in Boulder, and continues to partner on multiple school design projects with the Boulder Valley School District.
About AIA South
For more than 150 years, members of The American Institute of Architects (AIA) have worked with each other and their communities to create more valuable, healthy, secure and sustainable buildings and cityscapes. AIA Colorado South is one of four chapters within the AIA Colorado component. This chapter is comprised of members from 18 counties in south and southeastern Colorado and includes the cities of Colorado Springs, Alamosa, Pueblo and La Junta. -
Bear Creek Elementary School Renovation/Addition is now up and running.
The new Bear Creek Elementary School renovation/addition is now open for the school year!
After a year of careful planning and safe construction around occupied educational spaces, students in Boulder Valley School District will have the opportunity to walk through the new facility. RTA project architect, Michael Riggs says the facility is "designed for kids and community interaction" and intentionally "takes advantage of the spectacular mountain views" of the Boulder Flatirons.
An Open House is scheduled for September 19.
The RTA Education Team for Bear Creek Elementary included: Doug Abernethy (Principal in Charge), Michael Riggs (Project Architect), Rick Taves (Construction Administration), James McConnell (Drafting) and Jessica Ramos (Interior Architecture).
(Photo Courtesy of Jeff Finkelstein)