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Sierra Elementary School

Arvada, Colorado
Renewing Sierra Elementary for a New Era of Learning

Sierra Elementary School’s transformation for Jeffco Public Schools includes a 50,000-square-foot addition and targeted renovations that together replace the original school with a modern K–5 learning environment. The new wing adds 30 classrooms, expanded support spaces, a STEM-focused library and media center, a new art room, and a larger cafeteria, all seamlessly connected to the existing building through the main corridor to create a cohesive, efficient campus.

Size

50,000 SF Addition, 20,000 SF Renovation

Scope

  • Renovation
  • Addition

Achievements

  • Peak Design Award, A4LE, Rocky Mountain Chapter (2018)
Library and media center with curved circulation desk, perimeter bookshelves, large windows, patterned carpet flooring, movable seating, a green screen wall, and overhead curved acoustic panels.
Makerspace with a green‑screen wall, LEGO building panel, storage shelves with labeled bins, white activity tables with blue and red chairs, and a workstation with a 3D printer.
Leah Brabec
Senior Project Architect
MOA ARCHITECTURE

“The Jeffco PM, school Principal, FM and staff were a joy to work with and made the project fun to be involved in. One of its defining features are it's grade level learning pods where students can break off into smaller learning groups; each class level had their own identity and space they could be proud of. The central library was another defining feature of the school that brought students and staff together in an open and airy environment with various nooks for different levels of learning and collaboration.”

A Community Vision Brought to Life

Inspired by extensive collaboration with the school’s Design Advisory Group, the design reflects Sierra’s strong culture of parent volunteerism and commitment to personalized learning. Breakout spaces within each grade-level pod support small-group instruction, volunteer-led activities, and flexible, day-to-day adaptability. Classroom casework and pod organization reinforce grade-level identity, while the STEM-centered library and vibrant art room highlight Sierra’s focus on inquiry, creativity, and hands-on exploration.

Small‑group learning rooms with red accent walls, whiteboards, student tables and chairs, open shelving with bins, and a corridor with patterned carpet and a central staircase.
Circular built‑in reading nook with green padded seating set into a wood‑paneled wall, located along a classroom corridor with patterned carpet and adjacent learning spaces.
A Stronger Foundation for Sierra’s Future

The completed project provides students and staff with a more connected, collaborative, and future-ready school environment. Flexible learning zones strengthen partnerships between teachers, volunteers, and support staff, enriching the educational experience with more opportunities for individualized learning. Expanded creative, STEM, and support spaces elevate program offerings and give Sierra the resources it needs to support its community for years to come, while maintaining the welcoming, family-centered culture that defines the school.

Music classroom with hand drums, percussion instruments, wall‑mounted guitars, tiered seating platforms, and large windows beneath a ceiling with acoustic panels.
Elementary classroom with grouped tables and chairs, a colorful circle rug, wall‑to‑wall instructional charts, low storage shelves, and large windows providing natural light.
Exterior view of a two‑story school building with brick and metal‑panel façades, large glass windows, and a covered entry facing an open concrete courtyard.
Library and media center with curved circulation desk, perimeter bookshelves, large windows, patterned carpet flooring, movable seating, a green screen wall, and overhead curved acoustic panels.
Art classroom with large worktables and stools, blue accent wall with storage cabinets, ceiling‑mounted utility reels, curved acoustic ceiling panels, and natural light from large windows.
Interior corridor with a central staircase, perforated metal railing, built‑in seating nook beneath the stairs, round green reading pods along the wall, and patterned carpet flooring.
Collaboration area with built‑in square seating nook, long bench with green cushions, patterned carpet flooring, wood‑paneled walls with green accents, and overhead recessed lighting.
Makerspace with a green‑screen wall, LEGO building panel, storage shelves with labeled bins, white activity tables with blue and red chairs, and a workstation with a 3D printer.
Corridor with geometric blue seating nook, long built‑in bench, blue accent walls, patterned carpet flooring, and overhead ceiling panels leading to adjacent learning spaces.
Circular built‑in reading nook with green padded seating set into a wood‑paneled wall, located along a classroom corridor with patterned carpet and adjacent learning spaces.
Interior corridor with a wood‑paneled wall labeled ‘Library Media Center,’ tree‑themed graphics, patterned carpet flooring, curved ceiling baffles, and a central staircase leading to the upper level.
Small‑group learning rooms with red accent walls, whiteboards, student tables and chairs, open shelving with bins, and a corridor with patterned carpet and a central staircase.
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