Dr. Evie Garrett Dennis E-12 Campus

Setting a new standard for sustainable education through innovation, efficiency, and student-centered design.

As the first educational facility constructed in Denver’s Green Valley Ranch community, this 190,000-square-foot campus was designed to provide students with a forward-thinking learning environment while establishing a new benchmark for sustainable school design. Situated on a 35-acre site, the project became the first Denver Public Schools facility to achieve LEED Gold certification, demonstrating a commitment to both educational excellence and environmental responsibility.

Phase 1 of the campus included three classroom buildings serving primary, intermediate, and secondary students, each designed to accommodate approximately 450 students. The development also features a student union that provides shared gathering and collaboration spaces, along with regional sports complex amenities that support student activities and community use.

The campus is home to the Denver School of Science and Technology, SOAR Charter School, and a Multiple Pathways Center, creating a diverse educational environment that serves a broad range of learning needs. Modern classrooms, collaborative spaces, and advanced educational resources provide students with opportunities to engage in innovative, technology-rich learning experiences.

Sustainability was a central design priority. The campus incorporates renewable energy technologies and high-performance building systems, including photovoltaic solar panels, automated lighting controls, and a geothermal heat pump system. Together, these strategies significantly reduce energy consumption and contribute to exceptionally efficient building performance.

Designed to operate at approximately 20–25 kBtu per square foot annually, the campus approaches net-zero energy performance, making it one of the most energy-efficient educational facilities of its kind. The result is a state-of-the-art learning environment that supports student achievement while demonstrating the potential of sustainable design in public education.

This project received multiple industry awards, including:

• 2010 Award of Excellence for Tilt-Up Category from Rocky Mountain ACI
• 2010 Award of Merit for Construction Excellence
• 2010 Peak Design Merit Award for Outstanding Design in New Construction from Council of Educational Facility Planners International (CEFPI) Rocky Mountain Annual Meeting
• 2010 3rd Place Award for Colorado Sustainable Design from ColoradoBiz Magazine
• 2011 Excellence in Achievement Award from Tilt-Up Concrete Association
• 2010 Bronze Hard Hat Award for Outstanding K-12 Education Project from Mountain States Construction Magazine
• LEED Gold Certification, 2010