In 1994, a group of parents founded Stargate School in Thornton, Colo., 10 miles northeast of Denver. And for more than two decades, Stargate has served gifted and talented students from kindergarten through 8th grade.
Last year, Stargate rented space from a nearby church in order to expand its educational services to 9th graders. But that move betrayed Stargate’s need for a much bigger facility to realize its goal of becoming a K-12 learning center.
On August 23, Stargate opened a new $51 million charter school located on a 43-acre campus near the intersection of Interstate 25 and 144th Avenue. (Stargate sold its old building to the Archdiocese of Denver, which plans to continue using it as a school).
The project, which broke ground in May 2015, is the largest charter school project in Colorado, and the second-largest to be completed in the nation. It includes two academic buildings (K-6th grade gets 75,000 sf; 7th-12th 55,000 sf), a 25,000-sf field house and weight room; and an amphitheater. The site design incorporates a quad-style campus, and each academic building includes breakout spaces and a learning commons/makerspace for kids to pursue “passion projects.”
Stargate added a 10th grade for this school year, when enrollment is 1,175. Stargate will add 11th and 12th grades in 2017 and 2018, respectively, bringing Stargate's projected total enrollment to 1,600.
The school is chartered by Adams 12 Five Star School District. It was designed by the Denver studio of Hord|Coplan|Macht, and built by JHL Constructors. Inline Management is the owner’s rep. “The campus design and the variety of learning spaces we created reflect the innovative educational vision of the school leadership and board members that we worked with from the beginning. They were an inspiration to the design team,” says Adele Willson, principal, Hord|Coplan|Macht.
The project was developed through a public-private partnership that includes Stargate, the City of Thornton, the landowner, investors, and the AEC team. It was financed with bonds through a company called Colorado Bond Shares. The school will pay back the bonds out of operating funds.
The new Stargate School is part of a 70-acre mixed-used development in Thornton, where five acres of retail and commercial space are planned adjacent to the educational facility. The Denver Business Journal reported that the other 22 acres are earmarked for future development, although for what has yet to be disclosed.
The new school will add an 11th and 12th grade class in the next two school years, bringing its enrollment to around 1,600. Image: Courtesy of Stargate School.
Related Stories
| Jan 13, 2014
AEC professionals weigh in on school security
An exclusive survey reveals that Building Teams are doing their part to make the nation’s schools safer in the aftermath of the Sandy Hook tragedy.
| Jan 11, 2014
Getting to net-zero energy with brick masonry construction [AIA course]
When targeting net-zero energy performance, AEC professionals are advised to tackle energy demand first. This AIA course covers brick masonry's role in reducing energy consumption in buildings.
| Jan 10, 2014
What the states should do to prevent more school shootings
To tell the truth, I didn’t want to write about the terrible events of December 14, 2012, when 20 children and six adults were gunned down at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn. I figured other media would provide ample coverage, and anything we did would look cheap or inappropriate. But two things turned me around.
| Jan 10, 2014
Special Report: K-12 school security in the wake of Sandy Hook
BD+C's exclusive five-part report on K-12 school security offers proven design advice, technology recommendations, and thoughtful commentary on how Building Teams can help school districts prevent, or at least mitigate, a Sandy Hook on their turf.
| Jan 9, 2014
How security in schools applies to other building types
Many of the principles and concepts described in our Special Report on K-12 security also apply to other building types and markets.
| Jan 9, 2014
16 recommendations on security technology to take to your K-12 clients
From facial recognition cameras to IP-based door hardware, here are key technology-related considerations you should discuss with your school district clients.
| Jan 9, 2014
Special report: Can design prevent another Sandy Hook?
Our experts say no, but it could save lives. In this report, they offer recommendations on security design you can bring to your K-12 clients to prevent, or at least mitigate, a Sandy Hook on their turf.
Smart Buildings | Jan 7, 2014
9 mega redevelopments poised to transform the urban landscape
Slowed by the recession—and often by protracted negotiations—some big redevelopment plans are now moving ahead. Here’s a sampling of nine major mixed-use projects throughout the country.
| Dec 27, 2013
$1 billion 'city within a city' development approved by Coachella, Calif., city council
The mega development includes 7,800 homes, a retail center, office space, and nearly 350 acres of open space.
| Dec 17, 2013
Nation's largest net-zero K-12 school among winners of 2013 Best of Green Schools award
The Lady Bird Johnson Middle School in Irving, Texas, was named a winner of USGBC's annual award, along with nine other schools, individuals and communities working toward the common goal of healthy, high-performing learning places.
