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Chinook Trail K-8 Campus

Colorado Springs, Colorado
A K-8 Campus for Northern Colorado Springs

Chinook Trail Middle School expands the existing Chinook Trail Elementary campus into a unified K–8 environment designed to support a rapidly growing area of northern Colorado Springs. Delivered as a design-build partnership with RTA Architects and Bryan Construction, this 125,000-square-foot middle school accommodates 1,080 students with high-performance learning environments, robust technology, and dynamic spaces tailored to project-based learning. The facility features a full athletics program, specialized labs, and flexible learning zones—creating a forward-looking campus grounded in WELL principles and sustainable, energy-efficient strategies. The design also includes the expansion of the elementary school kitchen into a full-base kitchen.

Size

125,000 SF

Scope

  • Addition
  • New Construction

Achievements

  • Best Overall Project, DBIA Rocky Mountain Chapter (2019)
  • Design Award, Educational Facility, DBIA Rocky Mountain Chapter (2019)
  • BEST Award, Learn Category, IIDA Rocky Mountain Chapter (2020)
Learning stair with tiered wooden seating, adjacent birch‑forest wall mural, polished concrete flooring, yellow accent wall, and overhead lighting within a double‑height corridor.
Learning commons with colorful overhead acoustic panels, tree‑like structural columns, round lounge seating, bookshelves, café‑style tables near large windows, and exposed ceiling ductwork.
Curiosity at the Heart of Every Space

The design of Chinook Trail Middle School grew from an extensive, community-centered visioning process. A 33-member Visioning Workshop—including district leaders, principals, teachers, and design-build partners—set the foundation for the project. The Design Advisory Group met more than a dozen times, toured other schools, and engaged over 100 middle-grade students to ensure the building aligned with modern educational needs and district values.

Their collective vision emphasized curiosity, wellness, and a seamless link to the Colorado landscape. This led to the creation of biophilic, daylight-filled interiors; flexible, technology-rich learning zones; and signature elements such as the Curiosity Center—a next-generation interpretation of the school library—and the Learning Stair, which serves as both a social hub and a presentation venue. Throughout the school, adaptable furnishings, varied seating types, and collaborative spaces reinforce the theme “Be Curious,” encouraging students to explore, question, and create.

Two‑story corridor with a tall ‘BE CURIOUS’ wall graphic, mesh‑panel balcony railing with nature imagery, large windows, polished concrete flooring, and adjacent classrooms with glass walls.
Small‑group learning suite with yellow accent walls, curved lounge seating, high‑top tables and stools, adjacent classrooms with glass partitions, and patterned flooring.
Nurturing the Next Generation of Confident Learners

Chinook Trail Middle School elevates the entire K–8 campus, enriching academic pathways while strengthening connections between elementary and middle school students. Its healthy learning environments—shaped by WELL design strategies, abundant natural light, and Colorado-inspired materials—support student well-being and long-term energy savings for the district.

The school’s athletic facilities, cafetorium performance venue, maker and modular labs, and flexible commons spaces offer students opportunities to learn, collaborate, and grow in ways that mirror real-world problem solving. As the most innovative project funded through the district’s bond initiative, Chinook Trail Middle School stands as a model for future-ready education in Academy District 20: a campus designed not only to meet today’s educational needs but to nurture the next generation of curious, confident learners.

Exterior view of Chinook Trail campus with a two‑story façade of tan brick and gray metal panels, large windows, landscaped entry plaza, circular drive, and clear blue sky.
Auditorium with tiered seating, a proscenium stage framed by dark curtains, polished concrete flooring, exposed ceiling structure with ductwork and lighting, and large windows along the side wall.
Two‑story circulation and collaboration space with metal stair and balcony railings, patterned carpet and hard‑surface flooring, yellow accent wall with interior window, exposed ceiling structure with suspended lighting, and adjacent seating areas.
Exterior view of Chinook Trail Middle School with tan and gray façades, large windows, landscaped courtyard with young trees and grasses, and a yellow‑accented entry canopy.
Learning stair with tiered wooden seating, adjacent birch‑forest wall mural, polished concrete flooring, yellow accent wall, and overhead lighting within a double‑height corridor.
Exterior entrance of Chinook Trail Middle School with a gray canopy supported by bright yellow columns, glass entry doors, bike racks, and a walkway alongside the building.
Upper‑level corridor with wood‑grain flooring, mesh‑panel railing featuring nature graphics, exposed ceiling structure with suspended lighting, and colored accent walls with clerestory windows.
Gymnasium with a hardwood multipurpose court, ceiling‑mounted basketball hoops, retractable bleachers, volleyball net setup, and colorful acoustic wall panels beneath an exposed truss ceiling.
Auditorium with tiered seating, polished concrete flooring, proscenium stage with dark curtains, exposed ceiling structure with mechanical systems and lighting, and large upper‑level windows along the side wall.
Corridor with orange accent walls, wood doors with vision panels, patterned flooring, and an open classroom area with high‑top tables and stools visible through a wide doorway.
Learning commons with colorful overhead acoustic panels, tree‑like structural columns, round lounge seating, bookshelves, café‑style tables near large windows, and exposed ceiling ductwork.
Two‑story corridor with polished concrete flooring, metal balcony railing, exposed ceiling structure with suspended lighting, large windows along one wall, and built‑in wooden seating steps adjacent to the stair.
Movement studio with large windows, exposed ceiling structure, wall‑mounted equipment racks, exercise mats spaced across the floor, and polished athletic flooring.
Multipurpose space with round cafeteria tables and attached stools, polished concrete flooring, a proscenium stage with dark curtains, and an exposed ceiling structure with mechanical systems and suspended lighting.
Two‑story corridor with a tall ‘BE CURIOUS’ wall graphic, mesh‑panel balcony railing with nature imagery, large windows, polished concrete flooring, and adjacent classrooms with glass walls.
Courtyard at Chinook Trail Middle School with concrete paving, outdoor seating, landscaped planting beds, large windows, and a yellow‑accented entry canopy along the building façade.
Learning stair with tiered wooden seating, birch‑forest wall mural, high windows, yellow accent wall, and a large wall‑mounted display with adjacent whiteboards.
Learning stair with tiered wooden seating adjoining a two‑story corridor, featuring a large wall‑mounted display with whiteboards, upper‑level walkway with metal railing, and adjacent classrooms with glass partitions.
Small‑group learning suite with yellow accent walls, curved lounge seating, high‑top tables and stools, adjacent classrooms with glass partitions, and patterned flooring.
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