Ford Architects led the design of the Mapleton Early Childhood Center, a transformative project that converted the historic Mapleton Elementary School in Boulder, Colorado, into a modern early education facility. After a feasibility study beginning in 2008, the renovation was completed in 2013, blending the rich architectural heritage of the original building with 21st-century educational needs.

Alan Ford’s expertise in historic preservation was instrumental in restoring the building’s exterior, carefully repairing original details, and replacing windows with high-performance glazing that respects the school’s architectural heritage while improving energy efficiency. The interior was fully modernized to address health and safety requirements—including lead abatement—and to provide healthy environments emphasizing natural daylight, superior indoor air quality, and acoustical comfort, all critical to supporting early childhood development.

The project presented unique challenges, including resolving 11 different floor levels across the campus. To unify the varied structures and floor heights, the design introduced strategic connections and circulation paths, creating a cohesive campus that supports flexible, functional learning environments. Daylighting and indoor air quality were key focuses, providing healthy, bright spaces for infants through preschoolers. The careful integration of acoustic design further enhanced the comfort and wellbeing of students and staff.

Alan Ford served as the design lead while partnering with RTA Architects as the architect of record. Together, they brought a deep commitment to historic preservation and early childhood education design to this award-winning project.

The Mapleton Early Childhood Center has been widely recognized for excellence in renovation and adaptive reuse. Honors include the 2014 AGC ACE Award for Best Building Project Under $10M, Historic Boulder Preservation Award, City of Boulder Historic Preservation Award, ABC Colorado’s 1st Place Historical Restoration, AIA Denver Allied Design Professional Honor Award, ENR Mountain States Renovation/Restoration Award, Building Design & Construction National Reconstruction Gold Award, and the CEFPI Rocky Mountain Chapter Summit Design Award.

Today, Mapleton remains a treasured community asset, providing a safe, inspiring early learning environment that honors its historic roots while serving generations of young learners.