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| Completion Date: | 2006 | ||
| Location: | Arvada, Co | ||
| Awards: | 2007 CEFPI Peak Design Award | ||
| Description: |
The school site is a 12.5 acre school/park shared with the City of Arvada. It will be one of the largest elementaries in the District with 600 students. SlaterPaull Architects and the design advisory group early on in the design process developed a "village" theme for the school building to compliment the character of the neighborhood. This theme was also applied to the site while incorporating the curriculum to create a learning landscape.
The playground theme reflects the historical development of the Town of Arvada which is based on prospecting, the railroad and agriculture. The Colorado Central Railroad brought trains into Arvada Village twice a day in the 1870's after early settlers found the area favorable for gold panning and farming. Also highlighted is the "Around the Circle" train tour once offered in the state which passed travelers by significant geologic features of the Colorado landscape such as the Black Canyon of Gunnison and the Royal Gorge. Highlighting the history of the site and the state increases the learning value and overall fun of the playground. Theme elements include a train track walk, a timeline of Arvada, creative play pad striping such as number grids and agricultural crops labelled bilingually, and State features sandblasted into the walkway. Other elements include an outdoor classroom, a human sundial plaza and banner poles with establishment dates and site elevations on colorful vertical elements. The site will also accommodate staff and visitor parking, student drop-off drives, play fields, asphalt court games and age separated play equipment. Careful attention was given to the planted areas to minimize water needs but to also match the planting character of the neighborhood. A newer type of low water and maintenance sod will be used at the front of the building to provide a green lawn similar to bluegrass. This new hybrid cool season turfgrass will be aesthetically pleasing yet will require less water, mowing and fertilizing than typical bluegrass sod. The irrigation is designed in two systems to accommodate both current and future needs of the shared school/park site. The new school site will be a great addition to the neighborhood and District providing beauty, learning and fun. |
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