Elwell Elementary Construction
Elwell Elementary School represents a transformative vision for education—a two-story, open-concept school designed to spark curiosity, collaboration, and community. Flexible learning spaces replace traditional classrooms, fostering teamwork and personalized attention. Inviting areas like the Learning Stairs, media center, and STEM room make creativity and hands-on learning part of every day, while the design encourages students to think critically and work together.
Elwell embraces the idea of Learning Beyond the Walls. Outdoor areas are both functional and fun, designed to extend learning into nature. These spaces encourage exploration, play, and environmental awareness, making the outdoors an integral part of the curriculum. Students experience education that connects them to the environment and inspires curiosity beyond the classroom.
Funding
Construction (2020 Bond)
Project Total: $34,101,813| CDE BEST Grant contributed $9,548,508
Partners
Key Features and Student Benefit
- Core educational areas are organized into grade-level learning communities. Each learning community is designed and furnished to offer students and educators variety and choice in their educational environment to optimize learning for every student.
- A generous two-story central space for students to come together for shared activities, divided into three parts – a Learning Commons, a Learning Stair, and a Dining Commons.
- A Gymnasium enhanced with funding from Thompson River Parks and Recreation for after-hours community use.
- A Community Room located adjacent to the main building entrance for shared use and after-hours use by the community.
- Located adjacent to Clearview Park such that school amenities and town amenities complement one another for school and community use.
Project Advisory Group
"Designing a new school building is a new experience for me. I imagined that the architects and contractors would lead the discussion and tell us how the school should be built, but I was pleasantly surprised to see that it was our educators and community members driving the conversation and ultimately the design of this new building. It was an engaging process that enabled them to think outside of the traditional (and literal) “box” of what a classroom and school could look like.
While the structure and construction of the building will be designed by engineers to ensure it meets the Uniform Building Code and will employ the best measures for safety, security, efficiency, and longevity, the educational areas have been designed by our educators; the actual people who will be using those spaces on a daily basis.
I am so proud of our team for the time and dedication they put into this process — this is going to be a great elementary school for our students."
-Michael Wailes, President, Weld Re-5J Board of Education
RB+B Architecture
Designing student-focused environment offering variety, choice, and flexibility throughout
Why was Letford Elementary replaced?
Facility Condition Index (FCI) - This ratio is calculated by The Colorado Department of Education and is an industry-standard measurement of a facility’s condition. FCI is the ratio of the cost to correct a facility's deficiencies to the current replacement value of the facilities. The Facility Scorecard (FCI) for Letford Elementary measured in the critical range. It was more cost effective to replace Letford than to proceed with costly repairs and updates. This 1957 building was simply not designed to meet the needs of today.