Crestone Charter School Becomes a Community Landmark
When Crestone Charter School was awarded a $5.7-million Build Excellent Schools Today grant, community leaders in this remote Colorado town decided to build a new facility. The old school consisted of four dilapidated rental buildings on leased land with outdated HVAC, plumbing systems, inoperable windows and air-quality concerns. The design and construction teams worked closely with the community to build a sustainable, LEED-certified and solar-supported school that could also be used as a community gathering place.
The new facility has room for 75 students, a multi-use gym-theater-social space, a science lab, administration and reception space, a conference room and counseling rooms. It is anticipated that the school will be awarded a certification equivalent to LEED Gold by the Colorado Collaborative for High Performance Schools. The school has become an area landmark, serving students, teachers and the community at large.