Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

Denver School District Debuts New PreK–8, Project-Based Learning Environment

  • By Matt Jones
  • 12/13/22

Mapleton Public Schools in Denver, Colo., recently announced the completion of a design-build redevelopment in partnership with The Neenan Company, according to a news release. Valley View Innovation School, originally built in 1959 as a K–5 facility, underwent a 60,000-square-foot redevelopment and will now serve as a project-based learning environment to students in grades PreK–8.

The new facility includes amenities that the original didn’t, including a gym, art room, cafeteria, music room, science room, and preschool classrooms. The school’s curriculum will structure its academic year around three or more multidisciplinary projects, each addressing Colorado’s academic standards, the news release reports. Parents will also be able to select the school’s educational approach to their child to ensure the most compatible learning environment.

Valley View Innovation School
Photo courtesy of Michael Robinson Photography

“The transformation of Valley View Innovation School will help empower students to steer their educational experiences, developing a lifelong appreciation for curiosity and active learning,” said Brian Carnahan, The Neenan Company architect. “Mapleton’s visionary choice-based model showcases what we believe is possible for the future of educational facilities when we focus on the individual needs of students and their various learning styles. At the core of each of our education projects is our ability to transform our clients’ visions into realities in order to elevate communities.”

The school is divided into three pods, each featuring four flexible classrooms, and also includes two immersion studios for activities like music, science, arts, cooking, technology, and robotics. Other design features include a lobby/reception area; a recreation center featuring parkour equipment; a half-court area for gym classes; and overhead doors that open into a covered outdoor learning space.

The school is open to PreK–2 students for the current academic year. Each year, it will add grade levels to meet community needs until reaching its full capacity of 482 students. Construction began after the facility closed at the end of the 2018–19 school year. The project was funded through a 2016 community-supported bond and a $17-million Building Excellent Schools Today (BEST) grant from the state of Colorado.

About the Author

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

Featured

  • NWEA Report Recommends K–12 Natural Disaster Recovery Strategies

    The Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA), a K–12 assessment and research organization, recently announced the release of a new playbook for schools and communities recovering from extreme weather events, according to a news release.

  • Rhode Island Boarding School Completes Student Dorm Renovations

    St. George’s School in Middletown, R.I., recently announced the completion of a $26-million renovation project on Arden-Diman-Eccles Dormitory, according to a news release. The school partnered with Voith & Mactavish Architects (VMA) on the new space, which places a new focus on collaborative community spaces open to both boarding students and day students.

  • Academy of Classical Education Breaks Ground in Louisiana

    Charter Schools USA (CSUSA) recently announced the groundbreaking of a new public charter school in Covington, La., according to a news release. The Academy of Classical Education at Covington will enroll students in grades K–8 and is scheduled for completion in August 2026, just in time for the new school year.

  • South Carolina District Starts Construction on $50M Middle School Renovation

    The Aiken County Public School District in North Augusta, S.C., recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for the $50-million renovation and expansion of North Augusta Middle School, according to a news release. The project’s funding comes from the 2024 renewal of a one-cent sales tax approved by local voters.