CREJ - Building Dialogue - September 2017
Weld Re-3J R School District officials, community members and a team of architects from TreanorHL recently gathered at the site of the district’s soon-to-be new elementary school for the project’s groundbreaking ceremony. Nestled in the Silver Peaks subdivision near the intersection of Jewel and Fletcher streets, the school’s site is an undeveloped open space that will be transformed into a 59,500-square-foot elementary school. Meadow Ridge Elementary will initially serve students in grades PK-2, with the ability to transition into a 500-student traditional PK-5 school as enrollment demand increases. The state-of-the art facility will feature an integrated early childhood education center with three classrooms, while the remainder of the classrooms will be arranged in three separate pods around a team center collaboration space. Other features include a 3,800-sf gym, dedicated music and art space, a STEM lab and a central, open media center complete with overhead doors and glass partitions to visually connect the space to the nearby cafeteria and classrooms. Two separate outdoor learning areas are also featured in the site design, created in response to the building’s geometry. The school’s design drew inspiration from the surrounding landscape, with a variety of natural materials, shades, textures and light punctuating the school’s collaboration centers, presentation areas and flexible spaces. The school’s design is the product of several Design Advisory Group meetings held at the beginning of the year, with parents, community members, town leaders, teachers, support staff, and administrators coming together to develop a shared vision for the new school. The school’s schematic design and programming elements were shared with the larger community at a public meeting in March, while community outreach newsletters have continued to keep the community informed about the project’s progress. Superintendent Greg Rabenhorst, who was on hand to help with the groundbreaking, said he was looking forward to seeing the project take shape. “We appreciate all of the stakeholders who participated in the planning and design of what will be an innovative learning environment for our students and a source of pride for this community.” Construction of the new school was financed with proceeds from a $61 million bond that voters approved in 2016. Meadow Ridge Elementary is scheduled to open in August. IMAGES: TreanorHL 1. New exterior renderings show outdoor play and learning areas on the site 2. Design advisory group meeting 3. Floor plan 4. Site plan 5. Study sketch of the media center 6. Study sketch of the team center PROJECT TEAM CLIENT: Weld County School District Re-3J OWNER’S REP: NV5 ARCHITECT: TreanorHL LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT: 5Design Inc. STRUCTURAL ENGINEER: Martin/Martin CIVIL ENGINEER: Lamp Rynearson & Associates MECHANICAL & PLUMBING ENGINEER: BCER Engineering ELECTRICAL ENGINEER: SSG KITCHEN DESIGN: 3PM Design LLC AUDIO VISUAL DESIGN: Shen Milsom Wilke GENERAL CONTRACTOR: Fransen Pittman