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New Vista High School

Boulder, Colorado
A School Designed for Choice and Creativity

New Vista High School has long embraced a nontraditional approach to education—and its new building embodies that same bold spirit. Designed in collaboration with Boulder Valley School District and the New Vista community, the facility supports a culture of creativity, student choice, and self-directed learning. Instead of mirroring conventional high school models, the new building offers flexible, adaptable environments that encourage exploration, collaboration, and authentic expression. With a two-story central commons, classrooms that open to mountain views, and spaces tailored to multiple learning styles, the new New Vista is a purpose-built home for a school that thinks differently.

Size

74,830 SF

Scope

  • New Construction

Achievements

  • A4LE Rocky Mountain Chapter Peak Design Award (2025)

  • Learning By Design Outstanding Award (2025)

Two‑story school commons with polished concrete flooring, large windows, geometric green ceiling panels, cafeteria tables, curved lounge seating, wood‑slat ceiling accents, and a large colorful mural featuring a stylized owl.
Lounge area with individual armchairs and small round side tables arranged along floor‑to‑ceiling windows, featuring polished concrete flooring, expansive mountain views, and high ceilings with suspended circular light fixtures.
Breaking the Mold of the Traditional High School

From the outset, the vision for New Vista High School was shaped by its students, educators, and community—people who are deeply committed to educational innovation. New Vista’s “mold-breaking” philosophy guided every design decision, pushing the team to reimagine what a high school can be. Instead of a traditional gym or library, the school features a fitness room centered on wellness and a media-rich commons that transforms throughout the day. Breakout areas, balconies, quiet corners, and vibrant, art-filled corridors reflect the school’s belief in choice, agency, and expression.

The material palette—polished concrete, warm wood ceilings, bold colors, and abundant natural light—was selected to echo New Vista’s energetic and creative culture. Wall spaces throughout the building celebrate student identity and talent, featuring rotating student work and murals by local Colorado artists. Every detail reinforces a learning environment that is welcoming, authentic, and distinctly New Vista.

Outdoor art patio with metal tables and benches, tiled flooring, perimeter railing, and expansive mountain views under a clear sky.
Open two‑story commons, floor‑to‑ceiling windows, cafeteria tables, a tiered learning stair with integrated cushions, and geometric green acoustic ceiling panels.
A School Designed for the Future of Learning

The new facility strengthens New Vista’s ability to deliver a student-centered education while also advancing Boulder Valley School District’s commitments to sustainability, wellness, and long-term performance. As part of the district’s Building for Student Success bond program, the school is among BVSD’s most energy-efficient buildings—designed to reduce energy use by over 60% compared to the original facility and to perform 26% better than the code baseline for annual energy costs.

Health, comfort, and sustainability are embedded throughout the project. Features include expansive natural daylighting, operable windows, low-VOC materials, high-efficiency HVAC systems, fresh-air monitoring, LED lighting, and a solar-ready roof. More than 60% of the site is dedicated to green space, including outdoor classrooms and a student garden. Additional environmental strategies—EV charging stations, robust bike parking, drought-tolerant landscaping, and an artificial turf field—further reduce resource use while enhancing campus amenities.

The new New Vista High School is an environment that nurtures curiosity, creativity, and connection. Rooted in community values and designed for a school that continues to redefine learning, the facility will inspire generations of students to explore, express, and thrive.

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Auditorium with tiered seating, patterned carpeted aisles, a proscenium stage framed by wood‑accent panels, and full‑height glazing behind the stage revealing outdoor views.
Open two‑story commons, floor‑to‑ceiling windows, cafeteria tables, a tiered learning stair with integrated cushions, and geometric green acoustic ceiling panels.
Art classroom with high worktables and stools, large windows providing natural light, open shelving with art supplies, pegboard storage walls, and concrete flooring.
Auditorium viewed from the stage, featuring tiered seating with upholstered chairs, patterned carpeted aisles, side walls with vertical linear lighting, and a ceiling with suspended acoustic panels and stage lighting fixtures.
Open two‑story commons with polished concrete flooring, floor‑to‑ceiling windows, wood‑slat ceiling accents with circular pendant lights, cafeteria tables, a tiered learning stair, and a large colorful geometric mural on the adjacent wall.
View through a large interior glass garage‑style door into a classroom with high tables, stools, wood cabinetry, pegboard tool walls, exposed ductwork, overhead lighting, and concrete flooring.
Learning stair with tiered wood seating, adjacent concrete steps with metal handrails, a large geometric owl mural in bright colors, polished concrete flooring, expansive windows, and a ceiling with green acoustic panels.
Two‑story school commons with polished concrete flooring, large windows, geometric green ceiling panels, cafeteria tables, curved lounge seating, wood‑slat ceiling accents, and a large colorful mural featuring a stylized owl.
School corridor with a large geometric wall mural in red, yellow, teal, and black tones, polished concrete flooring, wood‑slat ceiling accents, and classroom entrances on both sides.
Sound booth with colorful acoustic wall panels, an electric guitar and electronic drum kit positioned against the treated wall, and a window looking into an adjacent workstation area with desktop computers.
Commons with curved lounge seating in patterned upholstery, polished concrete flooring, cafeteria tables, a tiered learning stair with wood seating, large windows, and a ceiling with geometric green acoustic panels and circular pendant lights.
Classroom with movable tables and chairs, floor‑to‑ceiling writable wall panels covered with drawings and notes, patterned carpet tile flooring, storage cabinets, and a suspended ceiling with recessed lighting.
Outdoor art patio with metal tables and benches, tiled flooring, perimeter railing, and expansive mountain views under a clear sky.
Exterior view of a modern high school building with vertical metal panel cladding, large windows, a cantilevered second‑floor massing, ground‑level glass entry, concrete columns, and adjacent outdoor seating areas.
School corridor with large recessed seating alcoves featuring patterned back panels and green cushions, polished concrete flooring, and white walls with integrated lighting.
Front entrance lobby with large floor‑to‑ceiling windows, glass entry doors, wood‑slat ceiling accents, polished concrete flooring, modern lounge seating, and an open stair with metal railing.
Music classroom with long tables and chairs arranged in rows, whiteboards, acoustic ceiling panels, built‑in storage cabinets, and guitars positioned at the front of the room.
Lounge area with individual armchairs and small round side tables arranged along floor‑to‑ceiling windows, featuring polished concrete flooring, expansive mountain views, and high ceilings with suspended circular light fixtures.
Dining area with patterned booth seating, movable tables, polished concrete flooring, a ceiling feature with bright green angled panels, and a food‑service counter labeled ‘The Roost’ beneath colorful vertical stripes.
Small‑group classroom with glass interior windows, a wall‑mounted display screen, whiteboards, rectangular table with task chairs, patterned carpet tile flooring, and a ceiling with recessed lighting.
Commons lounge area with colorful modular seating, polished concrete flooring, floor‑to‑ceiling windows with mountain views, and a ceiling grid with recessed lighting.
Fabrication lab with workbenches, metal stools, pegboard tool walls, large windows, exposed ductwork, overhead task lighting, storage shelves, and various equipment and materials arranged throughout the space.
Auditorium with tiered seating, patterned carpeted aisles, a proscenium stage with black curtains, wood‑accent wall panels, overhead stage lighting, and a ceiling with suspended acoustic panels and linear lighting.
Collaborative seating area with a high‑top counter, bar‑height stools, circular lounge seats, large windows with exterior views, polished concrete flooring, and circular pendant lights.
Wide interior opening looking into a classroom with high worktables and stools, wood cabinetry along the back wall, pegboard tool storage, exposed ductwork, overhead linear lighting, and polished concrete flooring.
Learning stair with tiered wood seating, adjacent concrete steps with metal handrails, large geometric mural in bright colors, polished concrete flooring, and expansive windows providing natural light.
Science classroom with high worktables and stools, wood cabinetry with storage, potted plants on upper shelves, exposed ductwork, suspended lighting, and polished concrete flooring.
Learning stair with tiered wood seating and integrated cushions, set beside a large, colorful geometric mural depicting an owl with stylized mountains, trees, and sunburst elements, under a ceiling with green acoustic panels.
Fitness room with weight‑training equipment including squat racks, dumbbells, benches, and resistance machines, featuring colorful geometric wall accents, large mirrors.
Two‑story school commons with polished concrete flooring, large windows, circular pendant lights, wood‑slat ceiling accents, cafeteria tables, curved lounge seating, and a colorful nature‑themed mural on one wall.
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414 14th St. Suite 300
Denver, CO 80202
(303) 308-1190

 

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259 South Center St. Suite 206
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