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

  • Haws Corporation Marks 120th Anniversary

    Haws Corporation, which provides hydration and emergency safety solutions worldwide, recently announced that the company is celebrating its 120th anniversary this year, according to a news release.

  • DLR Group Hires Three for Higher Education Practice

    Integrated design firm DLR Group recently announced that it has brought three new hires on board to help shape its higher education practice in California and the northeast, according to a press release.

  • University of Mary Washington Selects Builder for New Theater, Dance Facility

    The University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Va., recently announced that it has selected construction and development firm Skanska to lead a series of renovations and upgrades to fine arts facilities, according to a news release.

  • Bradley Company Highlights Hygiene Tips for Global Handwashing Day

    In honor of Global Handwashing Day on October 15, commercial washrooms and emergency safety solutions provider Bradley Company recently released the results of its 2026 Healthy Handwashing Survey. The findings indicate simple, practical steps that facilities managers can take to encourage good hygiene on campus.