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Great Work Montessori PK-5 School

Lakewood, Colorado
Opening the Door to Montessori Education

Great Work Montessori Elementary School is the first phase of a planned PK-12 campus in Lakewood, Colorado, providing a high-quality Montessori education for students from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. As a tuition-free charter school for elementary learners, it serves a lower-income neighborhood while offering a sliding-scale model for children ages one to five. Set on a sloping site, the campus is designed to accommodate Montessori’s hallmark small learning groups, with generously sized classrooms and extensive outdoor learning spaces that connect students to nature.

Size

39,156 SF

Scope

  • New Construction

Achievements

  • Peak Design Award, A4LE, Rocky Mountain Chapter (2019)
Great Work Montessori PK–5 School’s learning commons featuring skylights and exposed structural beams, lockers along the walls, a variety of tables and seating areas on an area rug, and large windows bringing in natural light.
Great Work Montessori PK–5 School classroom featuring low wooden tables and chairs, open shelving with Montessori learning materials, built‑in cabinetry and sinks, large windows for natural light, and children working at activity stations.
Brian Zilis
Senior Project Manager
MOA ARCHITECTURE

“I remember touring this building as a potential school for my kids before working at MOA and thinking that the design was very thoughtful. There was an attention to detail and a focus on the children that you don't often see in PK-12 architecture. It was inspiring.”

Spaces That Inspire Independence

The design of Great Work Montessori reflects the school’s educational philosophy, emphasizing freedom of movement, hands-on learning, and a connection to the natural environment. Overhead garage doors in each classroom allow students to seamlessly transition between indoor and outdoor learning, while abundant daylighting creates a bright and inviting atmosphere. The farmhouse-inspired architecture—with its red roof, exposed wooden beams, and multiple levels—responds to the sloping site while providing a welcoming, human-scaled environment. Every design decision was driven by the desire to create a space that nurtures curiosity, independence, and collaboration.

Great Work Montessori PK–5 School library loft featuring exposed wood and steel trusses, tall glass windows overlooking the landscape, bookshelves along the wall, and tables with chairs arranged on an area rug.
Exterior view of Great Work Montessori PK–5 School showing the glass entry tower, red rooflines, wood canopy structure, vertical siding, parking area, and surrounding landscaping under a partly cloudy sky.
Laying the Groundwork for a Learning Community

Great Work Montessori Elementary establishes a safe, inspiring, and flexible learning environment for the community’s youngest learners. By providing classrooms far above national size standards and abundant outdoor learning opportunities, the campus supports Montessori’s individualized approach to education. The school fosters a sense of place and belonging for students and families while laying the foundation for the second phase of development, which will include middle and high school facilities, a fitness center, and a theater. This project demonstrates how thoughtful, student-centered design can transform education in an underserved community and set a high standard for future learning environments.

Aerial view of Great Work Montessori PK–5 School showing the tall glass entry tower, red-roofed classroom wings, landscaped pathways, parking areas, and surrounding trees and open space under a partly cloudy sky.
Great Work Montessori PK–5 School classroom featuring low wooden tables and chairs, open shelving with Montessori learning materials, built‑in cabinetry and sinks, large windows for natural light, and children working at activity stations.
Great Work Montessori PK–5 School’s dining hall featuring polished concrete floors, rows of wood tables and chairs, exposed structural trusses with wood accents, and an upper mezzanine level with additional seating.
Aerial view of Great Work Montessori PK–5 School showing the red-roofed classroom wings, glass entry tower, curved drop-off drive, parking areas, and surrounding neighborhood with the city skyline in the distance.
Exterior view of Great Work Montessori PK–5 School showing the glass entry tower, red rooflines, wood canopy structure, vertical siding, parking area, and surrounding landscaping under a partly cloudy sky.
Great Work Montessori PK–5 School’s learning commons featuring skylights and exposed structural beams, lockers along the walls, a variety of tables and seating areas on an area rug, and large windows bringing in natural light.
Aerial view of Great Work Montessori PK–5 School showing multiple classroom wings with red and gray roofs, large glass façades, outdoor play areas, landscaped pathways, and surrounding natural open space with mountain views.
Great Work Montessori PK–5 School library loft featuring exposed wood and steel trusses, tall glass windows overlooking the landscape, bookshelves along the wall, and tables with chairs arranged on an area rug.
Great Work Montessori PK–5 School’s dining hall featuring tall glass walls, exposed wood and steel trusses, polished concrete floors, wood tables and chairs, blue lounge seating, and an upper mezzanine with railing.
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