How To Design A Learning Landscape In Downtown Denver

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Eleanor Rogers
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1 NEWS RELEASE - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 211 North Public Rd. Suite 200 Lafayette, CO tel fax Design Concepts Celebrates New Learning Landscape in Denver s Conservatory Green Stapleton Community New Learning Landscape Focuses on Animals, Insects and Patterns of Nature on the Shared School Campus of Denver School of Science and Technology (DSST): Conservatory Green Middle School and High Tech Elementary School. Lafayette, Colorado... August 22, 2014 Design Concepts, an award- winning community and landscape architecture firm, announced today the grand opening celebration of a new Learning Landscape at Denver School of Science and Technology (DSST): Conservatory Green Middle School and High Tech Elementary School. The shared school, with grades from early childhood education through eighth grade (ECE- 8), is a new Denver Public School located in the Stapleton Conservatory Green neighborhood, a redevelopment community situated on the former Stapleton International Airport. Design Concepts was hired by RB+B Architects to design the shared school site. From active play to passive and reflective areas, the Learning Landscape features abundant opportunities of interactive learning and educational teaching tools integrated throughout the school campus. Design Concepts theme for the Learning Landscape combines colors, patterns and textures of animals, insects and patterns found in nature, stated Carol Henry, PLA, ASLA, president and principal landscape architect of Design Concepts. Special design features include integrating fun and colorful educational symbolism like a butterfly lifecycle walkway, the US map painted on asphalt, nature- themed play equipment with dragonfly- like patterns, abstract insect forms embedded into play pits, a flight path of a bee integrated into an outdoor adventure area, and QR codes etched into a maze providing an integrated learning component. The site s animal and nature theming is interwoven throughout the site. An outdoor discovery area is themed around plant life and includes an outdoor classroom with a tactile discovery walk. Custom shade structures designed as giant leaves are located throughout the site. At the main entry plaza, etched water patterns provide a visual progression typically found in a watershed. And in the student garden area, natural materials make up the site, with plentiful native materials and plantings: a buff sandstone amphitheater sits in - 1 -

2 dappled shade formed by leaf cutouts in the shade structures, an oversized cottonwood stump creates a picnic table and seats, a wooden bridge crosses a cobble stream channel, stone patterns are imbedded in the crushed gravel walkways, and a pathway of tree stumps form an adventurous balance walk. The landscape design also includes common amenities appropriate to a school site including outdoor recreation and play fields, open spaces and plazas to embrace the community, along with carefully planned parking and student drop- off and pick- up zones for both parent and bus access. The design not only provides maximum functional site organization and amenities, but offers a fun and healthy active learning environment for students, teachers, parents and the surrounding community. About Design Concepts Founded in 1981, Design Concepts CLA, Inc., a nationally recognized award- winning community and landscape architecture firm located in Lafayette, Colorado. The firm focuses on master planning and design for parks, communities, and K- 12 school and university campuses throughout the United States. For additional information about Design Concepts visit MEDIA CONTACTS Design Concepts Carol Henry, PLA, ASLA, President CarolH@dcla.net, Linda Anderson, Marketing Manager LindaA@dcla.net, PR Marketing Consultant Lisa Jelliffe, Jelliffe Strategies lisa@jelliffestrategies.com, C: ###

3 Site Plan DSST: Conservatory Green Middle School and High Tech Elementary School 50T HS TR EE T OUTDOOR CLASSROOM MULTI-USE FIELD SOFTBALL FIELD BACKSTOP FISH-THEMED INTERMEDIATE PLAY PIT VERBENA STREET BUTTERFLY THEMED PRIMARY PLAY PIT LIFE CYCLE EDUCATIONAL AREA LOT GATEWAY STUDENT DROP-OFF BEE FLIGHT PATH ADVENTURE LOT ECE PLAY AREA SYNTHETIC TURF PLAY WILLO W ST REET ART PLAZA STOLL PLACE SHADE SHELTER BUS DROP-OFF ENTRY PLAZA Conservatory Green ECE-8 School Denver, Colorado Scale: 1 = NORTH

4 A Learning Landscape at DSST: Conservatory Green Middle School and High Tech Elementary School Design Concepts theme for the Learning Landscape combines colors, patterns and textures of insects, animals and patterns found in nature. Special design features include integrating fun and colorful educational symbolism like a butterfly lifecycle walkway, the US map painted on asphalt, nature-themed play equipment with dragonfly-like patterns, abstract insect forms embedded into play pits, a flight path of a bee integrated into an outdoor adventure area, and three QR codes etched into a maze providing an integrated learning component. An outdoor amphitheater and other shade structures are designed as custom leaf-shaped structures.

Developing Great Schoolyards

Developing Great Schoolyards A Handbook for Elementary Schools October 2011 1 st Edition Quality Schoolyards Are Important 2 All Children Need Quality Schoolyards Quality schoolyards are important places