Denver Public School’s Responsive Arts & STEAM Academy

Denver Public School’s Responsive Arts & STEAM Academy (RASA) is a groundbreaking educational facility designed to cater to the rapidly growing residential community of Denver’s far northeast area. The two-story, V-shaped elementary school is set to provide a holistic learning experience by integrating arts and music into its STEAM-focused curriculum. The school aims to nurture creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills among its young students, reflecting the district’s commitment to well-rounded education.

By highlighting visible building systems and sustainability features, the school aims to educate students on the importance of sustainable practices. A connection to nature is exemplified through outdoor classrooms, gardens and the integration of native plants throughout the landscaping. The project demonstrates the responsible use of public funds through a life cycle cost approach and an integrated design process, ensuring resilience, adaptability and low maintenance for the future.

The building envelope uses CarbonCast High Performance Insulated Wall Panels, providing an approximate R-value of R-20. The wall panels feature a unique combination finish, highlighting the intricate design and craftsmanship involved in the project. Utilizing two shades of gray concrete mix to add variety to the large forms, many of the panels span both floors of the building. The lower portion of the panels are a darker gray mix, while the upper portion is a lighter gray. Each panel is adorned with horizontal acid-washed bands framing a random ribbed pattern, achieved using a formliner. To create visual interest, other sections of the building showcase panels in an orange hue, with acid-washed bands on the top and bottom and a checkerboard form finish in the middle.

Read more about this project on the Wells website and watch a video.