When Crestone Charter School was awarded a $5.7-million Build Excellent Schools Today grant, community leaders in this remote Colorado town decided to build a new facility. The old school consisted of four dilapidated rental buildings on leased land with outdated HVAC, plumbing systems, inoperable windows and air-quality concerns. The design and construction teams worked closely with the community to build a sustainable, LEED-certified and solar-supported school that could also be used as a community gathering place.
The new facility has room for 75 students, a multi-use gym-theater-social space, a science lab, administration and reception space, a conference room and counseling rooms. It is anticipated that the school will be awarded a certification equivalent to LEED Gold by the Colorado Collaborative for High Performance Schools. The school has become an area landmark, serving students, teachers and the community at large.
2013 Award of Merit
Best Colorado/Wyoming K-12 Education Project
Crestone Charter School
Crestone, Colo.
Key Players
Owner Design Advisory Group/Crestone Charter School, Crestone, Colo.
Architect Harry Teague Architects, Basalt, Colo.
General Contractor Diesslin Structures, Salida, Colo.
Structural Engineer KL&A Inc., Golden, Colo.
Civil Engineer Schmueser Gordon Meyer, Golden, Colo.
MEP: Beaudin Ganze Consulting Engineers Inc.
landscape architect Mt. Daly Enterprises, Carbondale, Colo.
