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THORNTON, Colo. 鈥� Adams 12 Five Star Schools celebrated the official groundbreaking for the new Thornton High School on Tuesday, May 19, marking a major milestone in the district鈥檚 voter-approved 2024 bond program and the future of one of the district鈥檚 longest-standing high school communities.听

鈥淭oday’s groundbreaking is about honoring history, while looking ahead to new chapters,鈥� said Thornton High School Principal Charles Arellano, a Thornton High alumnus, according to a statement from the district. 鈥淭he new Thornton High School will create new opportunities for students and staff and will also carry over the pride, the relationships and the rich traditions that make the school so special.鈥�听

The new Thornton High School is one of the core projects included in the district鈥檚 2024 bond, which was approved by voters to support investments in schools throughout the district.听

Construction begins this month and will be completed in phases, allowing Thornton High School to continue serving students while the new building is constructed. The first wing of the new school is scheduled to open in summer 2028. The second wing is scheduled to be completed in winter 2029, with the completed building ready for students in fall 2030.听

The project will replace the existing Thornton High School with a modern learning environment designed to support current and future students while honoring the school鈥檚 history and deep community ties. Student leaders from Thornton Elementary, a Thornton High feeder school, also听participated听in the ceremony,听representing听future Trojans who could be among the first students to attend the fully completed new school.听

On the project website, Treanor noted that the design team listened closely to what project stakeholders loved, hoped for and felt was missing from the current Thornton High School facility. That feedback ultimately shaped the design. 听

鈥淲hat鈥檚听emerged is not just a school but a cultural hub: a welcoming, inclusive space that honors tradition and fosters innovation,鈥� the firm said.听鈥淭ogether,听we鈥檙e听creating a place of pride that honors the school鈥檚 rich heritage and paves the way for a bold, bright future.鈥�听

From open, light-filled spaces that invite collaboration to听features听that promote academic growth, student confidence,听accessibility听and wellness, the new THS is designed to support the whole student.听听

The design was intentionally developed to support听six听core听career and technical education (CTE)听pathways:听听

1. Advanced Manufacturing
2. Media Arts and Entertainment
3. Computer Science and Digital Technology听
4. Culinary and Consumer Science
5. Business and Entrepreneurship
6. Interpretation and Translation Services

These听educational pathways听are听woven into the layout, creating opportunities for听hands-on learning spaces where students explore real-world skills and discover their passions, according to Treanor.听The new curriculum is designed to accommodate the full spectrum of students who attend THS, including those听seeking听to build skills and enter the workforce听immediately听after graduation, as well as students planning to pursue higher education.听听

The project team also includes Accenture and Adolfson & Peterson Construction.听

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The architecture firm 听鈥斕齱ith听offices听in Santa Rosa, Calif.,听and Oakland,听Calif. 鈥斕齬ecently advanced听it鈥檚听2030 vision by听establishing听an office in Castle Rock, Colo.听The听nearly 80-person听firm now has three employees in Colorado听supporting听projects across the company and听as they听look to build a strategic pipeline of opportunities in听the region.听Led by Studio Director Joel听Williams,听AIA,听LEED AP, ALEP,听the team also includes听Project听Designers Joseph Puyot and Spencer Robinson.听

Williams joined听QKA in 2020听and听has more than 18 years of experience in education design, from听small classroom renovations to large-scale campus master planning projects. With a leadership听style rooted in collaboration and听communication,听he will build on his established client and听partner relationships to grow QKA鈥檚 presence in the Rocky Mountains.听听

“This听expansion is a natural extension of our community-minded work in听California and听offers great听opportunities to build our talent pipeline in a听highly desirable听region to live and work,鈥� Williams said.听

Williams, who will also share his insights at the 糖心少女 (SCN)听Design & Construction Symposium听in August, spoke recently with SCN to explain why Colorado is a compelling market for K-12 design, and how architecture can help schools do more with limited resources.听

SCN:听Colorado has seen significant growth and voter support for school bonds. How do you see those market conditions shaping the next generation of school design in the state?听

Williams:听Colorado voters approved听nearly听$6 billion听in new school bond funding in the 2024 election cycle, with听additional听measures听anticipated听on the 2026 ballot. That sustained community investment reflects the same conviction听we鈥檝e听seen across the Bay Area: that well-designed schools are worth funding, and that communities will听back听that commitment at the ballot box.听

The policy landscape is similarly aligned. Evolving energy codes in both states are driving demand for schools that prioritize efficiency, renewable generation, and reduced fossil fuel reliance. Sustainability strategies that were once aspirational鈥攄aylighting, natural ventilation, solar generation, stormwater management鈥攁re now baseline expectations in both markets. The frontier of the conversation has moved upstream, from operational energy use to the embodied carbon inherent in the materials and processes听required听to build and renovate in the first place.听听

The key distinction between the two markets is demographic. California enrollment is听largely stable听or slightly declining, while Colorado鈥檚 population growth is driving enrollment increases and expanding housing development across the region. That translates into demand for both new campuses and significant modernization of existing ones.听

SCN:听Many districts are balancing enrollment growth, aging infrastructure, and budget pressure. How can architecture help schools do more with limited resources?听

Williams:听There is no universal answer to the gap between funding and听need听that every public school district faces. Sometimes a creative renovation is the right investment; sometimes demolition and replacement of an aging facility is the better long-term decision. What matters is that the solution fits the place.听

In every case, the goal is the same: buildings that meet today鈥檚 needs while听remaining听adaptable, and that incorporate systems district facilities staff can听actually operate听and maintain effectively. Architecture helps schools do more with limited resources when听it鈥檚听rigorous about long-term cost of ownership, not just first cost鈥攁nd when听it鈥檚听honest about which investments will still be paying dividends in 20 or 30 years.听

SCN:听Colorado districts vary widely鈥攆rom fast-growing suburban systems to rural communities. How should education design adapt to听very different听local needs rather than relying on one-size-fits-all solutions?听

Williams:听Every project starts with active listening. Before we reach for a solution, we work to understand what a particular district, campus, and community actually听need. We have decades of experience in school design, but we focus more on bringing that听expertise听to creatively respond to a client鈥檚 goals than on telling them what they should think. The best designs respond to the constraints that make a school community and site unique鈥攏ot necessarily those with the largest footprint or the biggest budgets. Across a state as varied as Colorado, that posture听isn鈥檛听optional;听it鈥檚听the only approach that works.听

SCN:听You bring听nearly听20听years of education design experience. What are the biggest shifts听you鈥檝e听seen in learning environments over that time, and how will those lessons influence your Colorado work?听

Williams:听The biggest shifts听haven鈥檛听been in classroom layout or building configuration;听they鈥檝e听come from the systems, technology, and construction methods that make schools work听over time. As I mentioned previously, this is听apparent听in the shift in priorities听regarding听sustainability strategies. As certain strategies become the baseline, we can move to听focusing听more on concerns like embodied carbon.听听

That whole-lifecycle thinking, developed through years of California work, is a direct asset as Colorado districts make long-term infrastructure decisions. Our Colorado presence听isn鈥檛听designed to function as a stand-alone regional office; the vision is a distributed studio model鈥攐ne firm,听operating听across multiple geographies, carrying the same design standards, technical rigor, and culture that have defined QKA for four decades. For Colorado districts, that means access not just to a local team, but to the full depth of QKA鈥檚 institutional knowledge, built project by project, district by district, over 40 years.听

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• Haxtun School District RE-2J marked the start of construction May 13 on a renovation and addition project to unify its PK鈥�12 campus.听
• The project follows several years of planning and is funded through a bond election and a Building Excellent Schools Today (BEST) grant awarded in May 2025.听
• Work includes reorganizing classrooms and support spaces, safety and operational upgrades, and new/repurposed nutrition and athletics areas.听
• Plans also call for replacing the district鈥檚 1956 vocational agriculture building with a new facility supporting multiple agricultural programs.听听
• Construction is expected to be completed in July 2027 with听Wold听Architects and Engineers, Bryan Construction and NV5 partnering on the project.听

HAXTUN, Colo. 鈥� Haxtun School District RE-2J has begun construction on a renovation and addition project designed to unify its prekindergarten through 12th-grade campus and update learning spaces.听听

District officials, staff,听students听and community members gathered May 13 for a groundbreaking ceremony following several years of planning and a funding package built on a successful bond election and a BEST grant award in May 2025.听听

Superintendent Aron Jones said the project is intended to create a more connected campus that supports student learning and collaboration.听听

鈥淥ur goal has always been to provide the best possible learning environment for our students,鈥� said Superintendent Aron Jones. 鈥淏y bringing our students and programs together in a more organized, connected environment, we鈥檙e creating a school that better supports learning, collaboration and day-to-day success.鈥�听

The project scope includes reshaping spaces that district officials said have been fragmented by multiple additions over time. Early childhood and kindergarten classrooms will be听consolidated听with improved access to playgrounds, while special education and sensory spaces will be grouped together.听听

The redesigned campus will improve wayfinding and strengthen connections between grade levels while creating dedicated spaces for early childhood education, special听education听and听sensory-support听programs. The project also prioritizes safety through a more secure main entry sequence and improved organization of high-activity spaces such as athletics and physical education.听听

A significant feature of the project includes repurposing the existing elementary gym into a centralized cafeteria serving the entire PK-12 population. In addition, the district will construct a new auxiliary gym with expanded seating and improved access to locker rooms and outdoor athletic facilities.听听

Career and technical education听is听another focus. The district plans to replace its 1956 vocational agriculture building with a new facility intended for agricultural mechanics, welding, animal听science听and crop science programs.听听

Construction is expected to conclude in July 2027.听Wold听Architects and Engineers partnered with Bryan Construction and owner鈥檚 representative NV5 to design and deliver the project, which will听consolidate听previously fragmented facilities into a more connected and student-centered campus.听

This article is based on reporting originally published by听ColoradoBiz听on May 14, 2026, and information posted by Haxtun School District RE-2J.听

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By Greg Cromer听

Public school systems across the country are entering a period of sustained enrollment decline, driven by a convergence of demographic and behavioral shifts, particularly听evident听along Colorado鈥檚 Front Range.听As explained in Part I of this article, Colorado听is projected to lose more than 15,000 children ages 0鈥�17听over the next five years, due to factors such as听persistently low birth rates, high housing costs, an aging听population听and slower immigration.听

Online programs, private schools or homeschooling offer further competition for public schools across the country, helping to accelerate enrollment losses that exceeded 10,000 students this year alone, the largest drop since COVID-19. 听

Part I of this article discussed how听declining听enrollment听across the nation听is forcing听leaders to consider听consolidation,听closures听and replacement. However, this shift is also听creating听opportunities听to modernize aging facilities and rethink how space supports evolving educational models, from flexible, data-informed facility plans听to right-sizing听school capacity through consolidation and reconfiguration. Read further recommendations here:听

Establish Shared Understanding to Align Community and System Needs听

Engaging communities in school closures or consolidation is one of the most challenging responsibilities for school boards because it sits at the intersection of personal impact and systemwide necessity. Families often focus on identity, commute听changes听and neighborhood stability, while districts must address enrollment decline, underused facilities, financial听pressure听and equity. Bridging this gap requires transparent, data-driven storytelling that connects individual decisions to broader trends while also acknowledging the real loss communities feel鈥攁n essential step in听maintaining听trust.听

These decisions also require courage from district leaders, as delays or inaction can deepen inequities and strain limited resources. The transition also offers a powerful opportunity for community renewal by reimagining school identity through a new name, mascot,听colors听or symbols, which allows architectural teams to embed that identity into the built environment and shape a unifying community asset.听

Additionally, districts are increasingly designing schools for flexibility from the outset by positioning facilities as civic assets. Through adaptable layouts and coordinated shared-use spaces like flexible commons, gyms or auditoriums, schools can better serve both students and communities year-round, maximizing public investment and long-term value. This approach positions facilities not as static assets, but as adaptable infrastructure and dynamic tools that can continue to deliver student success and community buy-in.听

Unlock听Value in听Existing听Assets听

Reframing existing school assets is a key strategy for districts facing enrollment decline and uneven听utilization, shifting underused schools from excess capacity to flexible hubs that can be repurposed to meet emerging needs. Converting space for early childhood education, expanding special education or alternative programs, co-locating community services and even exploring workforce housing to support educator recruitment and retention can make an impact. Alongside physical reuse, specialized models such as STEM, Career and Technical Education (CTE) or arts-focused programs can also re-energize underenrolled facilities by drawing students across traditional boundaries.听

Partnering with architecture and design firms can help reimagine and maximize the value of existing assets. Consider repurposing underutilized wings into collaboration zones, student听services听or community spaces. At Sheridan High School, the design team revitalized an abandoned pool building into a trades skills workshop where students could work alongside trade professionals to develop hands-on skills in carpentry, plumbing, electrical and HVAC systems.听

Districts such as Aurora Public Schools are leaning into programmatic strategies to attract and听retain听students in a competitive enrollment landscape. As choice expands and demographic pressures intensify, districts are moving beyond boundary-based enrollment to emphasize what makes each school distinct. This includes developing and branding focus-based schools built around themes, specialized听programming听or community partnerships to create a clear value proposition for families. For example, in response to shifting enrollment patterns, the Clara Brown Entrepreneurial Academy leaned into its identity rooted in entrepreneurship and innovation, using its programmatic focus to differentiate itself and re-engage families.听

Designing for听consolidation and future repurposing is essential to creating resilient school environments that attract and听retain听students. Flexibility helps future-proof facilities against demographic shifts, funding听changes听and broader disruptions, enabling districts to respond to enrollment changes without stranded assets and keeping buildings relevant and impactful over time.听

Greg Cromer is an education practice leader at听Wold听Architects and Engineers with more than 40 years of experience designing K鈥�12 learning environments. He can be reached via email at听gcromer@woldae.com.听

Get more weekly reports and听timely听updates by subscribing for free at听schoolconstructionnews.com/subscribe.听

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By Greg Cromer

Public school systems across the country are entering a period of sustained enrollment decline, driven by a convergence of demographic and behavioral shifts, particularly听evident听along Colorado鈥檚 Front Range. Over the next five years, the state is projected to lose more than 15,000 children ages 0鈥�17, as persistently low birth rates, high housing costs, an aging听population听and slower immigration reduce the number of school-aged students.听

With more families considering online programs, private schools or homeschooling, public schools across the country are facing declines in student enrollment, accelerating enrollment losses that exceeded 10,000 students this year alone, the largest drop since COVID-19. According to projections from the National Center for Education Statistics, this downward trend is expected to continue nationally, placing increasing pressure on district funding, staffing and long-term planning, especially in high-poverty communities where per-pupil revenue is critical.听

Within this challenge lies a strategic inflection point: declining enrollment is forcing long-delayed conversations around consolidation,听closures听and replacement, while simultaneously creating an opportunity to modernize aging facilities and rethink how space supports evolving educational models. As some districts grapple with underutilized buildings and shifting community needs, the question is no longer whether change is necessary, but how to approach it. Below are strategies to unlock strategic investment in existing assets, align facilities with evolving educational programs and position schools to attract and听retain听students in a more competitive, choice-driven landscape.听

1. Build flexible, data-informed facility plans

In neighborhoods with aging populations, schools are听operating听below capacity, prompting consolidation or closure, while growth areas on the urban fringe听and in听redeveloping corridors face rising demand and need targeted expansion. This divergence is pushing districts toward more nuanced, data-driven strategies that balance right-sizing in legacy neighborhoods with growth planning elsewhere.听

To respond, districts are adopting more disciplined, long-range planning approaches that integrate enrollment projections, birth rates, housing trends and migration patterns with facility condition,听capacity听and educational adequacy data. Financial modeling grounded in per-pupil revenue forecasts and capital funding scenarios helps weigh renovation versus replacement, while scenario planning prepares districts for shifting demographic and policy conditions. Paired with transparent, community-informed engagement, this approach enables districts to move beyond reactive decisions and build flexible roadmaps that align facilities with evolving programs,听optimize听existing assets and support long-term sustainability.听

2. Right-size school capacity through consolidation and reconfiguration

Many schools were built during the post鈥揥orld War II boom (1950s鈥�70s), with a second wave in the 1990s鈥揺arly 2000s tied to suburban growth. As a result, much of the portfolio, especially in established听districts,听is听now 45 to 65 years old, with some buildings exceeding 70 and requiring significant modernization. While newer schools exist in growth areas, portfolios are听largely defined听by older campuses in mature neighborhoods and newer ones on the fringe. This imbalance is driving complex capital decisions, as districts weigh modernization against replacement amid declining or uneven enrollment.听

Rather than defaulting to replacement, districts are rethinking aging assets and are prioritizing renovation and adaptive reuse to better match capacity with current and projected enrollment. At听Peakview听Academy at Conrad Ball, declining enrollment prompted consolidation efforts, with Thompson School District merging a middle school and two elementary schools into a听new schools听into a new PK鈥�8 campus designed to better align staffing,听programming听and enrollment needs. Similar models, including High Plains School and Riverview PK-8 School, reflect a broader shift toward right-sizing facilities while听maintaining听neighborhood access to education.听

This approach supports more strategic capital investment, reduces long-term maintenance听costs听and improves operational efficiency while enabling evolving instructional models. By听consolidating听underused facilities and reconfiguring grade structures, districts can better balance educational quality with fiscal responsibility, transforming aging infrastructure into more sustainable, future-ready learning environments.听

Stay tuned for Part II of this article later this week, focused on establishing shared understanding to align community and system needs and how to unlock value in existing assets.

Greg Cromer is an education practice leader at听Wold听Architects and Engineers with more than 40 years of experience designing K鈥�12 learning environments. He can be reached via email at听gcromer@woldae.com.听

Get more weekly reports and听timely听updates by subscribing for free at听schoolconstructionnews.com/subscribe.听

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• Colorado State University held an April 24 topping-out ceremony for the ATLAS Facility, a two-story laser research building on the Foothills Campus.
• The project team completed the structural steel frame for the 77,626-square-foot facility, with participants signing the final beam before placement.
• The $150 million public-private partnership includes CSU and Marvel Fusion, with additional support from the U.S. Department of Energy and other sources.
• Substantial completion is scheduled for December 2026, and the university anticipates an official opening in 2027.
• The specialized interior build-out will include cleanrooms and vibration-sensitive labs designed for high-performance laser research.

FORT COLLINS, Colo. 鈥� Colorado State University marked a major construction milestone April 24 with a topping-out ceremony for the Advanced Technology Lasers for Applications and Science, or ATLAS, Facility, a project officials say will become one of the world鈥檚 most advanced laser research centers.听

The event recognized completion of the structural steel frame for the two-story, 77,626-square-foot building now rising on the university鈥檚 Foothills Campus near the Department of Atmospheric Science building. During the ceremony, faculty,听students听and staff were invited to sign the final beam before it was placed atop the structure, a longstanding construction tradition symbolizing progress and safety.听

鈥淎s the United States works to lead in areas like fusion energy and directed-energy technologies, facilities like this are essential,鈥� said Cassandra Moseley, Vice President for Research at CSU. 鈥淎TLAS will serve as a critical testbed, bringing together academia, industry and government to accelerate innovation, strengthen energy security and ensure our competitiveness on a global stage. I鈥檓 grateful for our industry and federal partners who have been 鈥� and will be critical in making this vision for scientific progress a reality.

When complete, the ATLAS Facility is expected to house one of the most powerful laser systems in the world, supporting research in听fusion听energy,听medicine听and fundamental science. University leaders have said the project is intended to position Colorado State as a global hub for next-generation laser science and related technologies.听

The project is being delivered through a $150 million public-private partnership involving Colorado State University and Marvel Fusion, with听additional听support from the U.S. Department of Energy and other funding sources. The facility was developed by Tetrad Real Estate, designed by architecture and engineering firm SWBR, and is being built by McCarthy Building Companies.听

Ground听was broken on the project in fall 2024. Substantial completion is scheduled for December 2026, with an official opening听anticipated听in 2027.听

With the steel frame now in place, construction will shift to听enclosure听of the building exterior, followed by installation of mechanical,听electrical听and plumbing systems. Crews will then begin the specialized interior build-out听required听for high-performance research operations, including cleanrooms, vibration-sensitive laboratories and precision environments needed to support advanced laser equipment.听

Facilities of this type typically require stringent environmental controls to听maintain听stable temperature,听humidity听and air quality, while also minimizing vibration and electromagnetic interference that could affect experiments.听Those technical requirements often make research laboratories more complex than conventional academic buildings.听

University officials have said the ATLAS Facility will expand Colorado State鈥檚 long-standing leadership in laser and plasma science while creating opportunities for faculty recruitment, student听training听and industry collaboration. The project听also is听expected to attract visiting researchers and federal research partnerships.听

Fusion energy research has drawn increasing international attention in recent years as governments, universities and private companies pursue technologies that could provide large-scale carbon-free power. Laser-based systems are among several approaches under development to achieve controlled fusion reactions.听

Beyond research, the facility is expected to generate economic benefits for the Fort Collins region during both construction and operation. Large capital projects typically support jobs across the design,听engineering听and construction sectors, while new research infrastructure can create longer-term demand for technical talent,听suppliers听and related business activity.听

The topping-out ceremony also highlighted continued momentum on Colorado State鈥檚 Foothills Campus, which has become a center for research initiatives tied to engineering, atmospheric science,听energy听and technology.听

Once operational, ATLAS is expected to serve as a flagship asset for the university and a prominent addition to the state鈥檚 research infrastructure. Officials say the facility鈥檚 combination of scale, technical sophistication and partnerships could make it a significant contributor to scientific discovery for years to come.听

Get more weekly reports and timely updates by subscribing for free at听schoolconstructionnews.com/subscribe.

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By Shelby Hinchliff

In Fort Collins, Colo., what was once a dated 1980s office park is now a thriving junior high school campus: Liberty Common School. This ambitious adaptive reuse project exemplifies the opportunities of adaptive reuse and shines a light on how we can reimagine spaces to evolve as the community needs them to.

Designed with flexibility, efficiency and student well-being at the forefront, phase one of the new campus officially opened for the 2025-2026 school year. The full school will be completed in time for the 2026-2027 school year.

For Liberty Common, a charter-public school focused on a classical, core knowledge-based curriculum, the project offered an opportunity to give junior high students a space uniquely tailored to their needs without the cost or timeline of new construction. The facility鈥檚 location further bolsters the school鈥檚 historic role closing achievement gaps for its district鈥檚 low-income and minority students, for which Liberty Common School has achieved national recognition.

鈥淲e needed a space that would not limit our growth. Having a regulation sized gym, consolidated classroom spaces and a space to support performances and presentations elevates the experience of our students,鈥� said Kathleen Kearney, Liberty Common Junior High School principal and project manager. 鈥淭ransforming an outdated office building into a fully functional school campus takes a great deal of planning and coordination, but we are so proud of the final product. It was a rewarding experience to revitalize a space in Fort Collins rather than let it go to waste.鈥�

Reimagining space through adaptive reuse

Originally built as part of a suburban office park, the site presented clear challenges and unique potential. With flat, ribbon-windowed architecture typical of its era, the buildings were far from school-ready. But by reconfiguring the interiors, adding a connective structure between them, and completely reworking the site layout, the design team created a secure, efficient and inspiring learning environment.

The two existing buildings will house classrooms and administrative areas. A new addition, referred to as the 鈥渓oggia鈥� in a nod to Roman architectural tradition 鈥� will connect the structures and includes a regulation-sized gymnasium, multi-use cafeteria and a space to host concerts, musical-theater practice and presentations.

Parking areas will be replaced with green space, providing outdoor learning and recreation areas while supporting critical stormwater rerouting infrastructure.

Fast-tracked timeline and phased construction

Charter school construction typically requires 14-15 months for permitting, design and buildout. But strategic overlap in the design and construction process, along with a highly collaborative approach, allowed the team to deliver the project鈥檚 first phase in just 10 months, from design start to occupancy.

Phased approaches are beneficial to many different spaces, but especially critical for schools. In order to prevent any academic disruptions, Neenan and Liberty Common completed phase one, 19,000 square-feet of academic classrooms and administrative areas, in time for the 2025 school year. Phase two will include a second building, loggia, gymnasium, support spaces, specialty classrooms and site work.

With critical areas of the school fully operational, Neenan is working in lockstep with the school to coordinate daily activities. This high caliber of collaboration is needed to ensure student safety in the areas adjacent to an active construction site.

Navigating complexity with collaboration

Converting the office park into a school wasn鈥檛 just a matter of design. It also required navigating multiple layers of local and state approval. The teams worked with the City of Fort Collins to remove a public street between the two buildings, reroute stormwater systems and reconfigure vehicle access and parking.

The project remained on schedule thanks to close coordination among Neenan, the school, the city and the owner鈥檚 representative, Jeff Jensen.

鈥淏ecause we鈥檝e worked with Liberty for years, we were able to help them quickly weigh their options, support the financing package and push through approvals efficiently,鈥� said Bill Pigg, president of Neenan Archistruction. 鈥淭his project is a perfect example of how design-build can accelerate delivery without sacrificing quality.鈥�

Planning with purpose

Prior to selecting the site, Liberty Common considered multiple options, including a ground-up build and adaptive reuse of other properties.

Site selection is a critical component of setting up an adaptive reuse project for success. It is necessary to conduct a comprehensive evaluation. Ultimately, Liberty Common selected this site based on proximity to existing campuses, cost efficiency and design flexibility. Neenan supported the funding agreement by helping the school develop its financing package and understand the full lifecycle value of the adaptive reuse model.

Liberty Common School was an opportunity to translate the school鈥檚 classical academic philosophy into its physical environment. Architects worked to incorporate traditional design references while optimizing the functionality of a modern school. Classrooms were built with adaptability in mind, supporting future growth.

A model for charter school innovation

The Liberty Common Junior High stands as a proof-of-concept for adaptive reuse in K-12 education. This is especially impressive within the charter sector, where limited budgets and tight timelines are common.

By leveraging Neenan鈥檚 integrated design-build model, strong municipal relationships and deep understanding of charter regulations, Liberty Common gained a cost-effective, future-ready campus in record time.

Shelby Hinchliff is a Principal Architect at Neenan Archistruction.

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By Lindsey Coulter

AURORA, Colo. 鈥� Aurora Public Schools has officially broken ground on a new P-8 school in the Horizon Uptown community, marking one of the first major projects funded by the district鈥檚 historic $1 billion bond program.

Parents, students, staff and community members gathered to celebrate the start of construction on the 124,000-square-foot building, which will replace the current Clyde Miller P-8. The original school opened in 1981 as an elementary school and later transitioned to a P-8, but district officials said the building lacks the instructional spaces and amenities of a modern facility and is in need of significant repairs.

Karla Gonzalez-Morales, whose children will attend the new school, addressed the crowd during the ribbon cutting, sharing her excitement about the future.

鈥淲hen a community comes together like this, it sends a powerful message to our children that their education is a priority worth celebrating,鈥� Gonzalez-Morales said.

The new school will serve both Clyde Miller families and students in the growing Horizon Uptown neighborhood. The three-story design by local architecture firm Anderson Mason Dale includes abundant windows for natural light, exploratory labs on each floor, and dedicated art and music rooms for vocal and instrumental programs. A full-size gym and expanded athletics offerings will also be available for middle school students.

APS Superintendent Michael Giles, Jr. praised the collaboration between architects, construction management teams and developers.

Before the ceremony concluded, attendees were invited to sign a structural beam with names, handprints and messages. The beam will be temporarily displayed at Clyde Miller P-8 before being installed in the new building, which is scheduled to open in August 2026.

The P-8 school is one of many projects supported by Aurora voters鈥� approval of the 2024 bond and accompanying $30 million annual capital mill levy. The $1 billion bond 鈥� the largest in Colorado history 鈥� funds new construction, renovations and technology upgrades across the district.

Every project falls under one of four community-driven themes: enhanced health, safety and security; equitable future planning; innovative learning opportunities; and state-of-the-art technology.

In addition to the Horizon Uptown P-8, the bond will finance construction of a new Health Science High School, a new building for Laredo Elementary School, and two other new P-8 schools. Major renovations are also planned for Gateway High School, Pickens Technical College and Aurora West College Preparatory Academy. Career and technical education spaces at the high school level and learning and support spaces districtwide will also be upgraded.

District leaders said the projects aim to improve both student learning environments and staff working conditions while preparing schools for future growth.

鈥淎s we look ahead, these investments are about more than just buildings,鈥� Giles said. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e about ensuring our students have the opportunities, spaces and resources to thrive.鈥�

Aurora Public Schools expects the Horizon Uptown P-8 to welcome its first students at the start of the 2026-27 school year.

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Former sustainability officer for the U.S. government under the Biden administration, Mayock has experience advocating for sustainable solutions on a large scale. With a focus on electrifying federal vehicles, powering government buildings with clean energy, and decarbonizing the supply chain, Mayock will bring his extensive experience to help CU Boulder push forward its climate goals with new and improved sustainable initiatives.听

鈥淚 am honored to join the University of Colorado Boulder, where this new role reflects the university鈥檚 steadfast commitment to creating a sustainable future for our students, faculty, staff and community,鈥� Mayock said in a statement. 鈥淎s we continue to navigate the pressing challenges of climate change and environmental stewardship, I am excited to collaborate with this talented community to foster innovative solutions, inspire bold action and continue to lead the way in sustainability practices鈥攍ocally and globally.鈥�

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