Bethke was the fourth iteration of an elementary prototype developed for Poudre School District as part of a design competition. The school is designed for flexibility and encourages a variety of educational opportunities for students. The building’s “passive” side facilitates quiet, distraction-free spaces for learning while providing separation from “active” areas like the gym and cafeteria. Indoor air quality, lighting control and acoustic considerations were all managed through the design. Except for the gym, the school is fully air conditioned through energy-efficient indirect evaporative cooling.
LOCATION:
Timnath, CO
CLIENT:
Poudre School District
SCOPE:
63,000 Square Feet
COST:
$9.6 Million
COMPLETED:
2008
Bethke was the first school in the nation to be certified under the USGBC’s LEED for Schools criteria and the first elementary in the nation to be certified under the Green Building Initiative’s Green Globes program. Natural daylighting and operable windows provide a great learning environment in classroom spaces. The building’s high-efficiency building envelope and high-efficiency mechanical and electrical systems reduce energy costs throughout the year.
