A 15-acre parcel in Erie’s Flatiron Meadows neighborhood is the site of the first PK-8 school for Boulder Valley School District. Design Concepts celebrated the groundbreaking on June 6, 2016, along with Cuningham Group Architects, future students, teachers, parents and district representatives. Shovels of all sizes were available for anyone who wanted to dig in!
The school, designed to hold 750 students, offers great views of the front range mountains including Longs Peak and the Flatirons. The outdoor courtyard connects to a below-grade amphitheater with a stage for performances and an outdoor seating area/classroom. Each grade level has their own raised garden beds. The PreK-K playground has nature-themed play equipment, a wavy walk, trike track, and sand play. The playground for grades 1-8 also offers nature-themed play equipment, along with seating areas and court games. A fitness trail with distance markers encompasses multi-use playfield for all to utilize, and the trail system connects with the neighborhoods and proposed future regional trails.
Set to open in the fall of 2017, the project encountered a few delays due to relocating the building on the site because of potential oil and gas drilling on an adjacent property. An agreement between Anardarko Petroleum Corp. and BVSD sets conditions that include drilling only when the school isn’t occupied.
Design Concepts is also working with the Town of Erie and BVSD on the adjacent 8-acre Star Meadows Park. The team collaborated to make sure the school and park site will complement each other, with special emphasis on keeping the school site secure and safe during school hours.
