COMPASS MONTESSORI SCHOOL

The 32,000 square foot facility was designed for 330 students and is now used for pre-K through 12 students. The middle school is a farm school and thus uses an agrarian motif, while the high school is more professional in appearance to reflect the education style used for the older students. Both buildings are pre-engineered metal buildings to save cost and construction time. The school opened 11 months after the design began, at 75% of the cost of typical schools.

Location: Golden, Colorado

Sustainability: High levels of insulation… minimize the amount of construction materials… natural and reused materials… low-VOC finishes… evaporative cooling… photovoltaic panels on roof

Credits: civil engineer…R&R // landscape architect…Saarinen Landscape Architecture // structural engineer…KL&A // mechanical & electrical engineer…Priest Engineering // contractor…Pirnack Walters

Year Completed: 2001