DLR Group
 

Located an hour south of Denver, Colorado, a new state-of-the art facility emerges from the hillside with it red ribbon roofline. As you enter through the main level you are greeted with the familiar scent of freshly baked cookies from the hospitality classes and sounds of laughter rising from the icommon space; the heart of the school where interaction and intentional collisions between students, educators, and industry partners happen.

A central, wooden learning stair connects the buildings two levels, acting as an assembly space and gather zone. Running the length of the building is a ribbon of red paint highlighting the extension of the corridor space that links programs and collaborative learning area together, allowing students and professionals to connect, learn, reflect and cross pollinate to elevate the learner experience.

Cherry Creek Innovation Campus is a joint collaboration of a district, a design firm, a community, and industry partners with a specific focus on how do we better preparing students for the changing workforce they will soon enter. To tackle this challenge the district gathered with our design team to charrette on how a different approach to education could foster some key interest areas; real world experiences, project-based learning, relevancy, communication skills, adaptability and teamwork, and ultimately bolster the pipeline for the next generation of Colorado’s workers. From these discussions emerged seven relevant career pathways that support the local and regional economy; Advanced Manufacturing, Business Services, Health & Wellness, Hospitality & Tourism, Infrastructure Engineering, IT & STEAM, and Transportation. Each pathway was designed with critical input from business partners who established baseline needs and space parameters to deliver authentic learning environments. Those talks led into space allocations, building heights, loading needs on each floor, and furniture and equipment needs.

CCIC provides a one-of-a-kind experience that supports the district’s community of learners, encouraging them to explore, experiment, and celebrate what their future holds. With curriculum rooted in real-world skills and trade certifications, the campus required finishes and spaces designed for durability and utility. Transparency into classrooms and meeting rooms fostered serendipitous collaborations within the different pathways, and classroom and furniture flexibility allowed students to manipulate their own learning environment to better suit their needs all achieved while maintaining an energetic, and creative interior environment.