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December 2021 \ BUILDING DIALOGUE \ 37 ELEMENTS High Altitude Design The planning process resulted in the following project goals: • Critical safety and security upgrades, including the re- location of the administrative offices for a more compre- hensive view of the entire campus, a monitored and secure entrance with a keyless entry system, the installation of a schoolwide fire suppression system, gas shut-off switches for the scienceandmechanical rooms, public announcement and surveillance systems, visual paging announcement sys- tem for the deaf/hard of hearing, and an enlarged commons area adjacent to the administrative offices. • Construction of a gymnasiumand stage/music room , im- proving the safety, health and security of students and staff to remain on a secure campus with increased classroom time for educational purposes. The facilitywould also enable students to have first ever home indoor sports games, result- ing in a large decrease in travel expenses and time as well as increase community engagement. • Construction of a Career and Technical Education class- room, allowing students opportunities for vocational pro- gramming on campus. • Construction of a commercial kitchen next to the com- mons area to support a hot lunch program where none had existed before and provide options for culinary arts classes. • HVAC upgrades to improve air quality and climate con- trol issues. • The addition of a nurse’s room to provide adequate space addressing health, safety and wellness of all students. To ensure the final environment aligned with the vision and goals set during the planning process, RTA held com- munity meetings, user group meetings, a three-day design workshop, and numerous Design Advisory Group meetings to continue to refine the design solution and respond to community concerns. The design and development of the final solution was truly done “hand-in-hand” with the Lake City community. n Nature-inspired design that responds to historic con- text. Lake City played a key role in the development of the AmericanWest, and residents of this remotemountain town diligently preserved their history and ever-evolving frontier culture. RTA worked closely with the town’s board of trust- ees and the county’s historical society to ensure the mass and character of the additiondidnot overwhelmthe site and that the exterior reflected the feel of the National Register Historic District in which the school is located. Interior materials and artwork were carefully selected to honor the breathtaking natural beauty of Lake City and Hinsdale County. Local beetle-kill pine lines the ceilings in the building’s public areas including the entry and the Com- mons. The stage’s proscenium arch also features beetle-kill pine in the shape of the school’s logo, the Fourteeners. In the gym, large murals from local photographers, selected through a communitywide competition, depict local land- marks such as the San Juanmountain range. The simple and fresh blue andwhite color palette is found throughout the building. The design theme in the Commons is named “the waterfall,” reflecting the four waterfalls in the area. It begins with and continues with the staggered floor- ing tiles in shades of blue, reminiscent of moving water, and illuminated blue panels recall falling water. n Reflecting community needs. Flexible spaces and updat- ed security access features allow the gymnasium and Com- mons to be compartmentalized and utilized for community events and, may, as an example, host firefighting crews in the event of a wildfire. The flexibility and multipurpose use of the new spaces within the school also proved invaluable during COVID-19, allowing students and staff to spread out throughout the building. A strong and vital community exists in Lake City, and the renovated school stands prominently on a corner of town coming in from the main road. This central spot is consid- ered the “front yard” of Lake City, and the new school offers a dynamic landmark. Because the school is a centerpiece of the community, the planning, design and construction processes were public from start to finish. As a result, students, parents, staff, administration and Lake City residents all felt the importance of the project and were active participants throughout design, which resulted in a school that achieved goals set forth at the onset of the project.\\ brian@rtaarchitects.com One of the biggest safety improvements came with the addition of the new gymnasium, with students no longer having to walk six blocks to the downtown armory. RTA's design of this project was recognized by the Association for Learning Environments Rocky Mountain Chapter with the 2020 Summit Design Award, the high- est honor in the renovations category.