Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

RTA Architects Wins Planning and Design Award from A4LE

  • By Matt Jones
  • 11/15/21

Colorado-based architectural and interior design firm RTA Architects announced recently that it has received the LEsolutions Planning and Design Award from the Association for Learning Environments (A4LE). The award, one of A4LE’s most prestigious honors, was presented at the association’s LearningSCAPES conference in Denver, Colo., for RTA’s design of the Lake City Community School (Hinesdale County School District RE-1, Lake City, Colo.) in the category of Renovation / Major Addition.

A news release explains, “A4LE’s LEsolutions Awards recognize learning environments that positively impact teaching and learning and are a result of a thorough planning process. Award-winning projects show stimulation of systemic change in the educational system, embodiment of leading-edge architectural design solutions and incorporation of an interactive process that engages multiple stakeholders during the planning phase.”

Lake City Community School
Lake City Community School

The Lake City Community School renovation and addition project included work like a full interior renovation; construction of a new gymnasium; critical upgrades to safety, security and HVAC systems; construction of a classroom for Career and Technical Education (CTE); construction of a commercial kitchen for both hot lunches and culinary arts classes; and a new nurse’s room. RTA Architects collaborated closely with the town’s board of trustees and the county’s historical society to match the character of the design with the feel of the area that has been designated a National Register Historic District.

“What I’ve realized the most with this renovation/addition is that a facility can really drive and change educational planning for students (for instance, the Career Technical Education classroom), community outreach (our community plays Pickleball every week on our sports court while the weather is nice), and the beauty and pride our building brings to the community!” said Rebecca Hall, M.A. Ed, Superintendent and Principal of the Lake City Community School.

Further details about the LEsolutions Award for Lake City Community School, as well as all 2021 winners and entrants, is available at the A4LE awards website.

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • sapling sprouting from a cracked stone

    Lessons in Resilience: Disaster Recovery in Our Schools

    Facility managers play a pivotal role in how well a school weathers and recovers from a crisis. Whether it's a hurricane, a flood, a tornado, or a man-made event, preparation determines resilience.

  • Photo credit - Chuck Coates

    Florida District Modernizes Central Energy Plants at Two High Schools

    Flagler Schools, a public school district in Flagler County, Fla., recently partnered with Matern Professional Engineering to modernize the central energy plants at two of its high schools, according to a news release. The project is part of a larger, district-wide effort to reduce energy costs and operational expenses.

  • Image courtesy of Kahler Slater

    UW–Madison Announces Completion of Morgridge Hall

    The University of Wisconsin–Madison recently announced that construction is complete on Morgridge Hall, a new academic building, according to a news release. The facility opened September 3 at the start of the fall semester, consolidating the School of Computer, Data & Information Sciences into a single facility for the first time.

  • Spaces4Learning Trends & Predictions for Educational Facilities in 2026: Part I

    We asked, you answered, and the results are in! Last year, we put out a call for submissions to collect our readership’s opinion on trends and predictions for K–12 and higher education facilities in 2026.