Three years after voters approved a $50-million bond measure, the new state-of-the-art Englewood Campus is brimming with students, teachers and technology.
The 239,000-square-foot campus, located at the former site of Englewood High School, now accommodates roughly 1,250 students from the high school, Englewood Middle School and Englewood Leadership Academy.
“The old building really was at the end of its lifetime,” superintendent Brian Ewert said. “We needed spaces to provide a 21st-century education. We believe kids learn better when they have better spaces to learn in. “
The project began with a six-month design process that incorporated students, faculty and community members. What followed was more than two years of construction, ranging from renovating existing facilities to building entirely new ones.
Highlights of the new campus include nearly 40 classrooms, a tiered lecture hall, a 5,000-square-foot library and media center, a health resource center and 6,000 square feet of common areas.
There is a new industry-level kitchen, part of the school’s new culinary arts program, and a new black box theater for the performing arts program. The dedication ceremony celebrating completion was Feb. 7.
“I think the campus will help Englewood reach the next level,” said Linda Olson, Englewood’s mayor pro tem. “It can help in reinvigorating Englewood schools, and I’m excited to see what comes from it.”
In designing the campus, Ewert said the district focused on using space and resources as efficiently as possible. Many areas, like the cafeteria and auditorium, are shared by the middle- and high-schoolers. And, with more efficient heating, cooling and lighting systems, Ewert said the campus will cost much less to operate.
Roughly $44 million from the bond measure was used to create the campus, located at 3800 S. Logan St. The remaining $6 million went toward renovating the former Englewood Middle School, which now houses Colorado’s Finest Alternative High School.
The new campus also includes three spaces to facilitate learning in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM. There is a designated STEM lab for both the middle school and the high school, plus a high-tech fabrication lab where students can turn their ideas into tangible products.
“STEM isn’t just about science or technology or engineering or math,” said Bill Gilmore, the district STEM coordinator. “It’s a process. It’s understanding that you need to be able to collaborate with others; you need to be able to problem solve.”
“Those are the skills employers are constantly telling us they’re looking for,” Gilmore continued. “These kids, by the time they graduate, are ready for the next step.”
Prior to Ewert taking over as superintendent in 2010, Englewood schools were struggling. Enrollment was declining, and many of the buildings were 50 or 60 years old. The district serves 3,000 students in four elementary schools, two middle schools and two high schools.
Now, though, Ewert said enrollment has begun to increase for the first time in years as students and parents take notice of the new facilities and programs on offer.
“We built (the campus) specifically so that it was inviting and enticing for students to come early and stay late,” Ewert said. “It’s very modern in its look and feel.”
Anna Gauldin: 303-954-1666, agauldin@denverpost.com
