By Shelby Hinchliff

In Fort Collins, Colo., what was once a dated 1980s office park is now a thriving junior high school campus: Liberty Common School. This ambitious adaptive reuse project exemplifies the opportunities of adaptive reuse and shines a light on how we can reimagine spaces to evolve as the community needs them to.

Designed with flexibility, efficiency and student well-being at the forefront, phase one of the new campus officially opened for the 2025-2026 school year. The full school will be completed in time for the 2026-2027 school year.

For Liberty Common, a charter-public school focused on a classical, core knowledge-based curriculum, the project offered an opportunity to give junior high students a space uniquely tailored to their needs without the cost or timeline of new construction. The facility’s location further bolsters the school’s historic role closing achievement gaps for its district’s low-income and minority students, for which Liberty Common School has achieved national recognition.

“We needed a space that would not limit our growth. Having a regulation sized gym, consolidated classroom spaces and a space to support performances and presentations elevates the experience of our students,� said Kathleen Kearney, Liberty Common Junior High School principal and project manager. “Transforming an outdated office building into a fully functional school campus takes a great deal of planning and coordination, but we are so proud of the final product. It was a rewarding experience to revitalize a space in Fort Collins rather than let it go to waste.�

Reimagining space through adaptive reuse

Originally built as part of a suburban office park, the site presented clear challenges and unique potential. With flat, ribbon-windowed architecture typical of its era, the buildings were far from school-ready. But by reconfiguring the interiors, adding a connective structure between them, and completely reworking the site layout, the design team created a secure, efficient and inspiring learning environment.

The two existing buildings will house classrooms and administrative areas. A new addition, referred to as the “loggia� in a nod to Roman architectural tradition — will connect the structures and includes a regulation-sized gymnasium, multi-use cafeteria and a space to host concerts, musical-theater practice and presentations.

Parking areas will be replaced with green space, providing outdoor learning and recreation areas while supporting critical stormwater rerouting infrastructure.

Fast-tracked timeline and phased construction

Charter school construction typically requires 14-15 months for permitting, design and buildout. But strategic overlap in the design and construction process, along with a highly collaborative approach, allowed the team to deliver the project’s first phase in just 10 months, from design start to occupancy.

Phased approaches are beneficial to many different spaces, but especially critical for schools. In order to prevent any academic disruptions, Neenan and Liberty Common completed phase one, 19,000 square-feet of academic classrooms and administrative areas, in time for the 2025 school year. Phase two will include a second building, loggia, gymnasium, support spaces, specialty classrooms and site work.

With critical areas of the school fully operational, Neenan is working in lockstep with the school to coordinate daily activities. This high caliber of collaboration is needed to ensure student safety in the areas adjacent to an active construction site.

Navigating complexity with collaboration

Converting the office park into a school wasn’t just a matter of design. It also required navigating multiple layers of local and state approval. The teams worked with the City of Fort Collins to remove a public street between the two buildings, reroute stormwater systems and reconfigure vehicle access and parking.

The project remained on schedule thanks to close coordination among Neenan, the school, the city and the owner’s representative, Jeff Jensen.

“Because we’ve worked with Liberty for years, we were able to help them quickly weigh their options, support the financing package and push through approvals efficiently,� said Bill Pigg, president of Neenan Archistruction. “This project is a perfect example of how design-build can accelerate delivery without sacrificing quality.�

Planning with purpose

Prior to selecting the site, Liberty Common considered multiple options, including a ground-up build and adaptive reuse of other properties.

Site selection is a critical component of setting up an adaptive reuse project for success. It is necessary to conduct a comprehensive evaluation. Ultimately, Liberty Common selected this site based on proximity to existing campuses, cost efficiency and design flexibility. Neenan supported the funding agreement by helping the school develop its financing package and understand the full lifecycle value of the adaptive reuse model.

Liberty Common School was an opportunity to translate the school’s classical academic philosophy into its physical environment. Architects worked to incorporate traditional design references while optimizing the functionality of a modern school. Classrooms were built with adaptability in mind, supporting future growth.

A model for charter school innovation

The Liberty Common Junior High stands as a proof-of-concept for adaptive reuse in K-12 education. This is especially impressive within the charter sector, where limited budgets and tight timelines are common.

By leveraging Neenan’s integrated design-build model, strong municipal relationships and deep understanding of charter regulations, Liberty Common gained a cost-effective, future-ready campus in record time.

Shelby Hinchliff is a Principal Architect at Neenan Archistruction.

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By Lindsey Coulter

AURORA, Colo. — Aurora Public Schools has officially broken ground on a new P-8 school in the Horizon Uptown community, marking one of the first major projects funded by the district’s historic $1 billion bond program.

Parents, students, staff and community members gathered to celebrate the start of construction on the 124,000-square-foot building, which will replace the current Clyde Miller P-8. The original school opened in 1981 as an elementary school and later transitioned to a P-8, but district officials said the building lacks the instructional spaces and amenities of a modern facility and is in need of significant repairs.

Karla Gonzalez-Morales, whose children will attend the new school, addressed the crowd during the ribbon cutting, sharing her excitement about the future.

“When a community comes together like this, it sends a powerful message to our children that their education is a priority worth celebrating,� Gonzalez-Morales said.

The new school will serve both Clyde Miller families and students in the growing Horizon Uptown neighborhood. The three-story design by local architecture firm Anderson Mason Dale includes abundant windows for natural light, exploratory labs on each floor, and dedicated art and music rooms for vocal and instrumental programs. A full-size gym and expanded athletics offerings will also be available for middle school students.

APS Superintendent Michael Giles, Jr. praised the collaboration between architects, construction management teams and developers.

Before the ceremony concluded, attendees were invited to sign a structural beam with names, handprints and messages. The beam will be temporarily displayed at Clyde Miller P-8 before being installed in the new building, which is scheduled to open in August 2026.

The P-8 school is one of many projects supported by Aurora voters’ approval of the 2024 bond and accompanying $30 million annual capital mill levy. The $1 billion bond — the largest in Colorado history — funds new construction, renovations and technology upgrades across the district.

Every project falls under one of four community-driven themes: enhanced health, safety and security; equitable future planning; innovative learning opportunities; and state-of-the-art technology.

In addition to the Horizon Uptown P-8, the bond will finance construction of a new Health Science High School, a new building for Laredo Elementary School, and two other new P-8 schools. Major renovations are also planned for Gateway High School, Pickens Technical College and Aurora West College Preparatory Academy. Career and technical education spaces at the high school level and learning and support spaces districtwide will also be upgraded.

District leaders said the projects aim to improve both student learning environments and staff working conditions while preparing schools for future growth.

“As we look ahead, these investments are about more than just buildings,� Giles said. “They’re about ensuring our students have the opportunities, spaces and resources to thrive.�

Aurora Public Schools expects the Horizon Uptown P-8 to welcome its first students at the start of the 2026-27 school year.

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Former sustainability officer for the U.S. government under the Biden administration, Mayock has experience advocating for sustainable solutions on a large scale. With a focus on electrifying federal vehicles, powering government buildings with clean energy, and decarbonizing the supply chain, Mayock will bring his extensive experience to help CU Boulder push forward its climate goals with new and improved sustainable initiatives.Ìý

“I am honored to join the University of Colorado Boulder, where this new role reflects the university’s steadfast commitment to creating a sustainable future for our students, faculty, staff and community,� Mayock said in a statement. “As we continue to navigate the pressing challenges of climate change and environmental stewardship, I am excited to collaborate with this talented community to foster innovative solutions, inspire bold action and continue to lead the way in sustainability practices—locally and globally.�

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LAKE COUNTY, Colo.—Construction has begun on a new PreK-2 primary school in Leadville, Colo., for the Lake County School District. Excavation began in early May at theÌýWest Park ElementaryÌýSchool site for a facility that is scheduled to be ready for students in August 2021.

Last November, Lake County voters approved a bond proposal that cleared the way for the district to receive a $20.8 million Building Excellent Schools Today grant. The new $34.7 million school will serve students that attend West Park andÌýPittsÌýelementary school, which the Colorado Department of Education has ranked among the facilities with the poorest conditions in the state.

“This new PK–2 school is such an important project for the future of our community,� said West Park Elementary School Principal Kathleen Fitzsimmons in a statement.

“Due to the pandemic, we held an informal groundbreaking ceremony aligned with social-distancing protocols. However, we will involve the whole community in celebrations at a later date.�

The groundbreaking involved months of work by the district’s Design Advisory Group, comprising staff and community members. The group provided input and guidance to Dynamic Program Management, the district’s owner’s representative, and to Hord Coplan Macht, the project’s architectural firm. FCI Contractors is the general contractor.

The new PK–2 building will include spaces that support student collaboration as well as a large gym for student and community use.ÌýThe facility will also include a large gym for student and community use.

“These are challenging times for everyone,� said Lake County School District Superintendent Wendy Wyman. “In many ways, the new PK-2 school is a beacon of hope for students, teachers and families in our community. It’s a reminder that, in the future, there will be a return to normalcy. We can’t wait for students to fill our buildings again. It is exciting that, in the not-too-distant future, our youngest students will have access to a new building designed to enhance their learning and promote their wellbeing.�

Demolition of the old West Park school is slated for the fall 2021 after students have started in the new school building. Paving and final landscaping will take place in the summer of 2022.

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STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, Colo. —ÌýThe design process is well underway on a new pre-K through eighth-grade school on the Steamboat Springs School District’s 70-acre property in Steamboat II.

According to the , the goal is to break ground this spring.

“We wanted to hit the ground running,� said Steamboat Springs School District Superintendent Brad Meeks. “People are going to see things happening in the spring.�

HCM Architects has been hired as the design team, and FCI Constructors as the construction contractors for this project.

With a completion date slated for fall 2021, the Design Advisory Group (DAG) for the new school was formed prior to the November 5 election, when voters narrowly passed the referendums granting a $79.5 million bond for the construction of the new school, as well as a bond providing $2.8 million annually for operating costs.

To date, the new school advisory group has already met three times and consists of 22 members, including parents, school staff, district administrators and community members.

“The PK-8 DAG application had an overwhelming response from volunteers generously willing to be part of the process,� wrote Owners Representative Colleen Kaneda, of Dynamic Program Management, in an emailed response to a question about how the group was formed.

“Unfortunately, we were unable to accommodate all applicants. We selected a diverse group of members who are representative of the larger community. These members have agreed to serve as ambassadors for those they represent (neighbors, parents, staff members, etc.) and will be talking with their peers about the status of the design and bringing the feedback they hear to the DAG meetings.�

At the Board of Education’s meeting in early December, Robin Schepper, a parent, and chair of the high school’s parent information committee, urged more community engagement and transparency by the district on the design process.

“I am happy that the community has funded education,� Schepper said, of the November 5 victory. “But now is the time for the details and for the district to keep the community informed on how decisions are made and how money is being spent.�

The district has scheduled the first round of public meetings, but Schepper said there needs to be additional channels to receive input, “so our taxpayer dollars are reflected in what the district builds.�

With the $79.5 million bond passing by just 69 votes, it is especially important, because in no way was the election a “mandate� from voters on the spending package, she said.

“It’s up to the district and the board to make sure taxpayers feel the money is being appropriately spent.�

This bond also includes about $27 million designated for upgrades at existing school district campuses.

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