DLR Wins First Project for Denver Schools

Firm’s airy, flexible design is ‘best fit’ for Green Valley Ranch High

DLR Group in Colorado Springs will design Green Valley Ranch High School, its first project for Denver Public Schools. The firm has been involved in 40-plus high school projects nationwide, six of them in the Rocky Mountain region. (Rendering courtesy of DLR Group)

DLR Group in Colorado Springs was recently selected as the winner of the Denver Public Schools design competition for the new Green Valley Ranch High School, its first project for the school system.

The firm was chosen from among nine architectural firms in the competition, which was coordinated by DPS, the Foundation for Educational Excellence, Department of Facility Management and Stapleton Foundation.

The competition explored the latest in contemporary high school design while keeping educational objectives in mind. Innovation, sustainability, environmental issues and educational program flexibility were stressed throughout the project.

“We feel honored to work with Denver Public Schools on such an innovative project,” said DLR Group Principal Bob Binder, AIA, REFP, who will serve as project manager. “We believe that we have designed an urban high school that will become the flagship for the Green Valley Ranch community.”

DPS Superintendent Michael Bennet said the competition allowed the district to look at a variety of school design elements from around the country and determine what best fit its educational standards for the future.

Green Valley Ranch High School will be built on 35 acres at Green Valley Ranch Boulevard and Walden Street in northeast Denver. (Rendering courtesy of DLR Group)

“DLR Group best addressed the architectural and phasing requirements requested by our committee,” Bennet said. “We’re excited to have them integrate their design elements into a state-of-the-art learning facility.”

The 1,600-student school will be designed to accommodate various teaching styles and methods, including traditional, departmental and small group learning. Features will include larger hallways to minimize crowding between class periods and a multi-use courtyard that can also handle community events. Classroom wings will be set at an angle to allow views of the west and northwest mountains and the building will face south to north, optimizing daylight capability.

“Smaller, flexible learning communities will be integrated to allow for more teacher and student interaction and one-on-one learning relationships,” said Binder. “Along with educational standards, [we] included the use of modern technology to allow access for Internet, computer networks and electronic instructional techniques.”

During the competition, the firm’s staff toured other facilities to get a feel for the design and types of materials, spaces and features to which the community was accustomed.

“We also traveled to Federal Way, Wash., and toured a high school that has successfully implemented small learning communities that are multi-functional,” Binder said.

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