Stargate K-8 Charter School
The building is divided into two wings and houses 700 students. On the north there is a two-story wing with 32 classrooms and on the west there is a one-story wing that includes lobby, cafetorium, kitchen, gymnasium, administration, music, library and art. The lobby features a northern hemisphere sky dome, which transforms it into a teaching and fundraising opportunity. Although built on a stringent budget, the school has an innovative load-bearing masonry structure with high insulation levels and durable finishes. These cost-saving strategies enabled the project to meet a $96/SF budget, including site work while allowing every classroom to have day-light harvesting integrated with high efficiency electric lighting and high performance glazing.
Client: Adams 12 Five Start Schools / Stargate Foundation
Location: Thornton, Colorado
Date: 2002-2003 / Addition 2006-2007
Area: 40,343 SF / Addition 21,111 SF
*Alan Ford - collaborating design principal with Hutton Ford Architects