Located in Thornton CO, Mapleton School District owns and operates Meadow Community School. The building, originally designed and constructed in 1961, has neared the end of its useful life. The school district determined the most long-term fiscally responsible measure was to replace the school with a new facility on the same seven-acre site while the existing building remains operational.
Accommodating 488 students and situated to the east of the site to accommodate the existing building’s location, the design includes a north/south axis. The facility has a science and nature theme and, thus, several courtyards run adjacent to the building, providing a sense of the landscape extending into the building’s common space.
LOCATION:
Thornton, CO
CLIENT:
Mapleton Public Schools
SCOPE:
67,600 SF New School
COST:
Estimated $30.4 Million
COMPLETED:
Estimated 2025
Located in the heart of the building, the two-story daylight-filled library features an elevated space where students can read the books they ‘publish’ to their classmates. This space shares visual adjacency to the Meadow Publishing House (located above).
Grades 1-6 orient classrooms around a team teaching environment of two teachers to 50 students. The majority of classrooms are oriented with northern or southern exposure to provide even, consistent daylighting. Instructor collaboration space is also included.
To help create a differentiated space for 7th and 8th grade students, a social space is located on the second floor for them overlooking the dining commons. Glass is located throughout the school to create visual connections, and biophilic, natural materials are used throughout.
Funded partially through the Colorado Department of Education’s BEST Grant program, the school will be seeking CHPS Verification.
