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Ricardo Flores Magón Academy K-8

Denver, Colorado
A Campus Where Culture and Opportunity Grow

Ricardo Flores Magón Academy (RFMA) now has a permanent home in a new BEST-funded K–8 facility located just north of Denver’s Regis neighborhood. Serving a largely Latinx student population, the school emphasizes academic excellence, cultural heritage, and community engagement. The building includes classrooms, administrative spaces, a gymnasium, and expansive performance and gathering areas, all centered around a bright, double-height commons that functions as the heart of the school. This modern facility supports both student learning and teaching experiences for education students from nearby Regis University.

Size

32,700 SF

Scope

  • New Construction
A School Inspired by the Spirit of the Plaza

The design draws inspiration from Latin American plazas, reflecting the school’s cultural roots and community values. The commons area, organized as a contemporary plaza mayor, connects classrooms, administrative areas, and the gymnasium, creating a central gathering space that fosters collaboration and social engagement. Clerestory windows bring natural light deep into the interior, while bold accents of red, blue, and yellow celebrate Latinx heritage. Every design decision—from circulation patterns to learning stair seating—reinforces the school’s mission to nurture social, emotional, and academic growth.

View of the cafeteria commons with blue tables, wide wood learning stairs, a mezzanine walkway, geometric ceiling lights, and colorful wall panels.
Aerial view of Ricardo Flores Magón Academy showing the main school building, large green open field, multiple playground areas with play structures, and a wide view of the surrounding neighborhood and landscape.
Precision Planning on a Tight Site

Due to site grading constraints, the new building was constructed a mere 10 feet away from the existing school building, which was occupied throughout construction. The proximity of the active site to the existing structure required the team to develop a careful and considered construction process. Shoring walls were erected and foundations for the new building were lowered so as not to undermine the structural integrity of either building during both the construction and demolition phases.

Learning stairs and cafeteria commons with colorful wall panels, geometric ceiling lights, metal railings, polished concrete floors, and high clerestory windows.
A Healthy School for a Thriving Community

RFMA’s new campus provides a safe, inspiring, and flexible environment for students to learn, explore, and thrive. The thoughtfully designed commons and plaza-inspired circulation spaces encourage collaboration and community building, supporting both daily learning and special events. By incorporating sustainable design strategies through Collaborative for High Performing Schools (CHPS) certification, the school ensures a healthy, high-performing environment. With expanded facilities and culturally responsive design, RFMA now has a space that honors its mission, strengthens ties to the community, and sets students on a path to reach their full potential.

View of the cafeteria commons with blue tables, wide wood learning stairs, a mezzanine walkway, geometric ceiling lights, and colorful wall panels.
Aerial view of Ricardo Flores Magón Academy showing the main school building, large green open field, multiple playground areas with play structures, and a wide view of the surrounding neighborhood and landscape.
Ricardo Flores Magón Academy main building with brick and blue-accent façades, a covered glass entry area, digital time display, surrounding parking loop with marked lanes, street lighting, and landscaped grass under a partly cloudy sky.
Science classroom with gray work tables, colorful round stools, wood flooring, whiteboard wall, storage cabinets, and microscopes arranged along the back counter.
Upper-level overlook of the commons featuring red and gray acoustic wall panels, geometric ceiling lights, metal railing, and clerestory windows.
View of a conference room with a wood desk, red student chairs, carpet flooring, and large corner windows overlooking the surrounding neighborhood.
Ricardo Flores Magón Academy learning commons featuring wide tiered wood stairs, cafeteria tables with round stools, colorful wall panels, large ceiling light fixtures, polished concrete flooring, and an upper walkway with railing.
Learning stairs and cafeteria commons with colorful wall panels, geometric ceiling lights, metal railings, polished concrete floors, and high clerestory windows.
Ricardo Flores Magón Academy showing the classroom wing with brick and blue-accent façades, surrounding concrete walkways, a large green lawn, adjacent parking lot, and nearby residential neighborhood.
Ricardo Flores Magón Academy showing multiple playground areas with play structures, a paved play court, landscaped edges with rockwork, and the main school building set within a surrounding neighborhood.
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COLORADO OFFICE
414 14th St. Suite 300
Denver, CO 80202
(303) 308-1190

 

WYOMING OFFICE
259 South Center St. Suite 206
Casper, WY 82601
(307) 268-9890

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