Progress on several projects with Eaton School District (Weld County School District RE-2) continues. In the office, we refer to these projects as the “Eaton shuffle”, where a new high school being built on a new site serves as the catalyst for allowing Eaton Middle School to move into the existing high school building, and Eaton Elementary School to move into the existing middle school building.

As Eaton High School finishes Design Development and moves into the Construction Document phase, the school’s modern, agrarian architectural theme has really come to life. Using a combination of wood, brick, glass, and metal roofing as the primary materials, and gabled roof lines which enhance this theme, the school for 800 students faces one of the most prominent roads into the town of Eaton and includes a site design that is respectful of the neighborhoods to the east and the rec center to the north. This project is slated to begin construction early winter of this year.

Eaton Middle School, currently in the Design Development stage and completing design later this fall, can accommodate 675 students when it opens. The Middle School’s design concept centers on a beautiful new courtyard space that will connect new construction with historic elements of the existing building. All four sides of the courtyard have significant amounts of glass for visibility and maximizing the indoor/outdoor connection. The courtyard creates lines-of-sight between the media center and theater, connects new and historic, as well as Core Curriculum and Unified Arts programs. The courtyard is an active space where students from all backgrounds and with all interests come together to study and present ideas, celebrating the school’s theme that EMS functions as a family that shares in life together.

Eaton Elementary School is currently in Design Development and will continue design through 2020 and go to bid in January 2021. Introducing bright colors (both in the exterior and interior of the school) will aid in wayfinding and add energy to this school for 600 students. One of the more vibrant enhancements within the new school is the development of new media center, cafeteria, and maker spaces all right inside the front entry. These spaces can function collectively or independently based on their use at different times of day. The school has an entire new look appropriate for elementary students and updates the facility with a secure main entry.

All three of these projects are on track for the district-wide “shuffle” to take place during Summer 2022.

The RB+B team is also currently wrapping up design on a new District-Wide Transportation and Maintenance Facility, which has recently started construction.

In November 2016, the community supporting Mapleton Public Schools passed a $150 million bond, with funds allocated to improve nearly every school in the District. Midtown PK-8 is a new 72,300-square-foot PreK-8 building is part of the area’s new Midtown Development, located near 68^th Avenue and Zuni Street.

Designed for 488 students, this new facility will integrate Expeditionary Learning as the educational delivery model and has taken on an identity combining “Urban” and “Art” themes. Mapleton Public Schools is structured to provide choice, intending to match each individual learner with his or her optimal learning environment. MPS will transport any student in the District to any facility within the District; accordingly, each educational facility is not viewed as being a “neighborhood school”, but rather each educational facility is viewed as a unique offering within a larger portfolio of educational offerings. Early in the process, the Design Advisory Group determined the new Midtown PK-8 would be the “Urban” school within the District’s portfolio and is exploring opportunities for using “Art” to define and express the “Urban” concept.

RB+B Architects teamed up with Sampson Construction to deliver this $17.3 million Design/Build project. The school will open March 2019.

Several years after first expanding into the Colorado financial market, Blue Federal Credit Union is currently designing its third Colorado credit union location and second in Fort Collins. This 11,000-square-foot building is divided into four suites – one of which will be occupied by the credit union. The other three will be leased out to future tenants. The site was chosen due to its proximity to and views from the street, as well as its access within this growing part of town.

The overarching design concept centers on the creation of a large public plaza on the south side of the building that will enhance the retail experience for the credit union’s members. The plaza includes shade trees as well as space to sit and mingle. The plaza is designed to be a neighborhood gathering space, serving as a destination instead of just a space to pass through.

Both the north and south facades incorporate glass so as to encourage visual transparency from one side of the building to the other. Materials were selected for their visual appeal, durability, and cost effectiveness. Fiber cement cladding adorns the exterior with an appearance of wood but a far superior durability factor. Stone tiles are used at the base of the building.

The project is currently under construction and targeting completion for the first of the year. This is RB+B’s second project designed for Blue Federal Credit Union.

Launching with three beers on tap and seven more to come, Intersect Brewery will introduce a unique environment for patrons with a mix of music-inspired, local artistry, collected instrumental and pop culture artifacts, and a style – both aesthetically and in their brews – that throws the rules out the window. For a more intimate beer sipping experience, guests can listen to old vinyl records in the lounge, or, if socializing with a large group, move the party to the oversized bar or barrel-tables.

Construction is set to begin on this RB+B-designed Fort Collins brewery located at the Drake Shopping Center. Intersect Brewery aims to serve the booming craft beer market in this under-served area.

Owner Will Herdrick is planning a 2,290-square-foot Tap Room supported by a 2,628-square-foot, 7 bbl Brew House with enough extra back-of-house space to expand his brewing operation in the future. A future barrel aging program and kitchen expansion was also taken into consideration. A large outdoor patio space will boast a biergarten, fire pits, outdoor games and kids’ area.

Whatever you are after, Intersect Brewery promises to have something for everyone. The brewery will start pouring later this summer.

Together with Brinkman Partners, RB+B Architects celebrated the groundbreaking of the new 18,000-square-foot Ascent Studio Climbing and Fitness facility last week.

Opening fall of this year, Ascent Studio will be Fort Collins’ new premier Climbing Facility and will include the City’s tallest rope climbing terrain. In addition to rope climbing, Ascent Studio will offer extensive top out bouldering (the largest area in Fort Collins), cardio equipment, yoga, a dedicated climbing training area, upscale locker rooms, a daycare, dedicated group and party climbing area with party room, and the most dedicated and newcomer friendly staff in Northern Colorado – all in the heart of the City.

Metro State University of Denver is currently developing a new facility for its brewing and fermentation sciences programs. Looking to occupy the lower level of the Tivoli Student Union, directly beneath the recently re-opened “Tivoli Brewing Company” brewery, MSUD will have a unique program that is able to interact with a functioning commercial brewery. It will include multiple lab spac­es, both smaller and larger scale brewing equipment, a fully functional keg line system, and many other unique opportunities for its students to become engaged with the rapidly growing brewing and fermentation industries. RB+B was called on to provide program­ming, space planning, and renderings for MSUD’s fundraising efforts, and is excited to be working with them on this unique and innovative project.

Recently presented for review to the City of Fort Collins, this six-acre development in northeast Fort Collins includes two components: a brewery and self-storage facility. The self-storage component (designed by another firm) and brewery will both express similar language in aesthetic as well as a shared material palette.

The 7,500-square-foot brewing facility includes a 5,000-square-foot brewhouse, 2,500-square-foot tap room, 2,000 square feet of covered wrap around porch and a 4,000-square-foot beer garden for year round use by craft beer enthusiasts. While a tenant has yet to come forward for the new facility, the building is sized to accommodate a 20 barrel brewhouse and a production capacity of approximately 3,000 bbl/year.