Denver Community School District

Project Overview

Denver Community School District partnered with Emergent to create a modern 6–12 learning environment shaped by the values of its community: flexibility, equity, connection, and future readiness. Responding to sustained enrollment growth, the district sought a solution that would expand capacity while elevating the student experience. The resulting 56,000 square foot addition reimagines how learning happens, blending adaptable classrooms, collaborative zones, and integrated technology to support a wide range of instructional needs.

Anchored to the existing Cyclone Center, the addition strengthens the campus as a cohesive hub for academics, athletics, and community life. The new spaces not only accommodate today’s students, they also provide a resilient foundation for Denver’s long-range educational vision.

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The Project Team

Nick Hildebrandt

CEO, Principal Architect

Patty Spowart

Senior Architect, Studio Lead

Modern library with wooden ceiling and circular lights. A person works on a laptop at a high table, while others sit nearby. Shelves of books line the walls.

Two people walk past a glass-walled classroom with engaged students inside.

Modern, open study area with yellow ceiling accents. Students sit on gray and maroon furniture, engaging with laptops.

56k SF

of new learning space
$16.4M

total project cost
85%

community approval for the bond referendum

A Campus That Grows With Its Students

Emergent worked closely with the district to transform an outdated facility into a vibrant, flexible, and student-centered campus. The design organizes middle and high school learners into dual academic communities, each supported by breakout rooms, shared collaboration spaces, and transparent learning environments that adjust as teaching methods evolve.

A light-filled commons forms the social and academic heart of the building. This space supports everything from independent study to group projects and community gatherings, reinforcing connections across grade levels.

Community involvement guided every step. Through Emergent’s Four E’s process: Evaluate, Engage, Evolve, and Emerge, educators, facilities leaders, and residents helped shape the priorities of the addition. Their input informed planning, design, and construction oversight, ensuring the final result reflected local values and long-term aspirations.

Emergent helped us take our vision and shape it into the project we have today. Their creativity, listening, and collaboration made all the difference.

— Brad Laures, Superintendent, Denver Community School District

Modern school building exterior with large glass windows and an American flag. Labels indicate auditorium, gymnasium, and middle/high school addition.

Middle/High School Addition. The new middle and high school addition connects seamlessly with the existing Cyclone Center, creating a unified campus for academics, athletics, and community events.

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Modern school hallway with students and a teacher at a high table using laptops. Inside a glass-walled room, flags and maps are visible.

Breakout Nook. Integrated breakout nooks give students and teachers space for quick collaboration, small-group work, and real-time learning support.

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A modern classroom with students in groups, using colorful seating and tall desks. Large windows provide natural light

Flexible Learning Zones. Transparent, flexible learning zones let students choose how they work, from collaborative group space to quiet focus areas with abundant natural light.

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A modern school cafeteria with large "Denver Cyclones" signs. Students in casual wear sit on colorful, circular seating

Denver Commons. The commons brings students together for collaboration, social connection, and daily activity, reinforcing the campus as a central hub of school life.

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Bold School Branding. Graphic elements and interior details highlight shared values, strengthening community identity and helping students feel grounded in their environment.

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Modern, spacious lounge with wooden tables, white chairs, and a glass trophy case. Students relax and study, surrounded by bright natural light.

Denver Commons. Warm materials and intentional branding carry through gathering and dining areas, connecting academics and activities within a unified campus experience.

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Students study in a modern library with colorful carpet, grey and blue furniture, and ring lights on the ceiling.

Seating Posture of Choice. A mix of seating types and open collaboration space gives students freedom to choose how they work, supporting movement, comfort, and connection throughout the day.

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A classroom of students sits attentively around tables, facing a teacher pointing at a presentation on the whiteboard.

Flexible Classroom. Flexible classrooms support whole-group instruction while allowing teachers to shift quickly between discussion, collaboration, and hands-on learning.

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A classroom with students engaged in creative activities. A teacher in a floral blouse observes.

Learning Spaces. Light-filled learning spaces encourage movement, creativity, and engagement, giving students room to explore ideas in a comfortable and adaptable environment.

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A modern classroom with students seated on colorful cube stools and cushioned benches around tables.

Learning Spaces. Adaptive seating and breakout areas support small-group learning and give students space to collaborate in ways that feel comfortable and natural.

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A group of five students sit at a table by large windows, focused on laptops. Their expressions are attentive and concentrated

Flexible Seating. Abundant natural light and flexible seating invite students to work together, reflect, or recharge in a calm and welcoming environment.

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A busy classroom filled with students engaged in various activities. Some are working at high tables with computers and materials, while others are using the kitchen area. The room is well-lit, organized, and has a collaborative atmosphere.

Family Consumer Science Room. Hands-on learning spaces like Family Consumer Science give students opportunities to build real-world skills through active, project-based work

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Students work in a busy school woodshop, crafting projects with various tools. The space is vibrant and active

Wood Shop. Career and technical education areas support making, problem-solving, and creativity, giving students room to design, build, and explore.

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A group of six students with long hair sit on stools around a high table in a modern library. Behind them are bookshelves and lockers

Centralized Media Center. The media center serves as a shared hub for research, collaboration, and connection, supporting learning across all grade levels.

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Two young people walk along a corridor with floor-to-ceiling windows, wearing casual sportswear. Others sit at tables, suggesting a relaxed, indoor setting.

Natural Connection. Open circulation and shared learning zones create natural opportunities for connection, movement, and community throughout the school day.

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A student walks down a brightly lit school hallway with glass-walled study rooms on the right. The space is modern with a vibrant green accent wall inside a room.

Quiet Spaces. Transparent small-group rooms give students and teachers quiet spaces for focused work while staying closely linked to surrounding learning areas.

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