High Tech ECE-8 | Denver Public Schools
Learning Landscape
Conservatory Green is a shared school campus for two Denver Public School of Science and Technology schools: Conservatory Green Middle School and High Tech Elementary School.
This Learning Landscape combines colors, patterns and textures of animals, insects and vegetation found in nature. Special design features include integrating fun and colorful educational symbolism like a butterfly life cycle walkway, a U.S. map painted on asphalt, nature-themed play equipment with dragonfly-like patterns, abstract insect forms embedded into play pits, and a flight path of a bee integrated into an outdoor adventure area. QR codes etched into a maze integrated the learning components.
The animal and nature theme is interwoven throughout the site. A discovery area is themed around plant life and includes an outdoor classroom with a tactile walk. At the main entry plaza, etched water patterns provide a visual progression typically found in a watershed. There is an outdoor exploratory area with natural materials, and numerous native plantings. These include a buff sandstone amphitheater with shade structures featuring leaf cutouts, a large cottonwood stump that creates a picnic table and seats, and a footbridge which crosses a cobble stream bed. Etched stepping stones are embedded in the crushed gravel walkways, and a pathway of tree stumps forms an adventurous balance walk. The Kitchen Community designed and installed whimsical, macaroni shaped garden beds for hands-on learning experiences.
The landscape design also includes common amenities appropriate to a school site, including outdoor recreation and play fields, open spaces, and plazas to include the community, along with carefully planned parking and student drop-off and pick-up zones and bus access. The parking lot contains a porous landscape detention island to help clean surface runoff before entering nearby drainage ways.
Unique Site Features:
Insect and plant-themed play area
Synthetic turf play mound
Wavy ECE trike track
Art plaza
Butterfly-shaped primary play pit
Bee flight path across playground
Shady playground gathering area
Butterfly life cycle educational area
Native species-themed four-square
Fish shaped intermediate play pit
Turtle PIP-surfaced mound
Custom leaf-themed gateway structure
QR code educational maze
Water-themed main entry with confluence plaza
Nature play exploratory area, including:
Footbridge over dry creekbed
Natural log table and seating
Log balance course
Interpretive stepping stone path
Mushroom table and seating
Soft surface track loop
Student garden beds
Natural outdoor classroom with custom leaf shade structure
Large multi-use athletic field
Porous landscape detention parking lot island
