2025 Mountain States Best Projects
Award of Merit, K-12 Education: Dove Creek Elementary
Dove Creek Elementary
Dove Creek, Colo.
Award of Merit
Submitted by Neenan Archistruction
Owner Dolores County RE-2J
Lead Design Firm & General Contractor Neenan Archistruction
Civil Engineer Goff Engineering & Surveying
Structural Engineer Corbel Engineering
MEP Engineer ME&E Engineering
Owner's Representative Artaic Group
In a small town of less than 700 people, this elementary school represents a long-term investment in the community’s future. The new campus replaces a 1950s-era facility and is designed to meet evolving educational demands while supporting public functions.
A phased approach ensured uninterrupted school operations during construction. The new school was built on the existing playground’s footprint, then a new playground and reconfigured parking lot were built on the original site after work on the new school was complete.
Design-build delivery facilitated both communication and problem-solving. When the team realized during integrated planning that the building was set into bedrock on half of the site, it allowed for budget and timeline adjustments. Had this issue been discovered during construction, it likely would have resulted in major adjustments and delays.
Funded by a BEST grant, the 30,000-sq-ft facility is the first school in the region to utilize a heat recovery variable refrigerant flow mechanical system. This advanced, all-electric HVAC technology provides constant fresh air and actively balances indoor temperatures by transferring heat between zones as needed.
Security was also a cornerstone of the project’s design. The administration office anchors the main entrance and provides clear sightlines throughout the building, and a centrally located library acts as a transitional space between instructional and communal zones.
