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Summit Heights Junior High School

Commerce City, Colorado
Redefining the Middle School Experience

Summit Heights Junior High in the Adams 14 School District is a new educational facility created to unify two aging schools, Adams City Middle School and Kearney Middle School, into a single, modern campus that supports both student achievement and community connection. Funded through the district’s successful 2024 Bond, the school reflects a forward-thinking approach to middle-level education. The design combines academic innovation with a strong emphasis on student well-being, cultural identity, and long-term operational sustainability.

The new school will serve approximately 750 students in 7th and 8th grade, with room to grow to 850. Located on district-owned land near East 72nd Avenue, the campus is being designed to meet modern technology standards while supporting a wide range of academic, athletic, and community programs.

Size

126,481 SF

Scope

  • New Construction
Aerial rendering of a junior high school campus showing interconnected building wings, landscaped courtyards, pathways, parking areas, bus drop‑off lane, and adjacent athletic fields.
Main interior corridor with terrazzo flooring, colorful wall graphics, a wood‑slat ceiling with linear pendant lighting, built‑in seating niches, and entrances to adjacent spaces including a gymnasium.
Exploring Career Paths Before High School

At the heart of the educational vision is an academy-based learning model that provides early exposure to career pathways typically explored in high school. Students will engage in four distinct academies: Architecture, Construction, Engineering and Design; Design Innovations Technology; Business, Hospitality and Tourism; and Health Science and Human Services. Each academy includes dedicated lab and classroom spaces designed for hands-on, project-based learning, supported by flexible instructional areas and technology-rich environments that prepare students for real-world success.

The project was shaped through a collaborative process with a Design Advisory Group including district administrators, educators, students, facilities staff, the future principal, representatives from JHL Constructors, and the district’s owner’s representative. Their guidance helped ensure the school reflects the priorities and needs of its students, staff, and community.

Learning commons with built‑in study stations, lounge seating, wood‑slat ceiling accents, carpet tile flooring, writable wall surfaces, and large windows providing views of the mountains.
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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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