The small community of Deer Trail, Colorado, was eager to replace its outdated pre-Kindergarten to 12^th grade (pre-K-12) school after receiving a $34.8 million grant. The Building Excellent Schools Today (BEST) grant is awarded to Colorado schools to help improve educational environments and prepare students to be productive citizens.

The rural town located just 60 miles from Denver off the Interstate 70 corridor had to meet rigorous quality standards and comply with local laws, regulations, and codes during the build process. Olsson was recruited by Cooperative Strategies, a team of educational facility and program planners, to perform construction materials testing, construction observation, and special inspections.

The 26J District processed over 107,000 cubic yards of soil during a six-week period that we continually tested and inspected to provide assurance that quality and construction standards were met. We also provided inspection and testing services for reinforced concrete, structural masonry, structural steel, site utilities, asphalt pavements, and site concrete. Our team provided the necessary third-party building inspections to ensure applicable state requirements were met.

The new 74,250-square-foot-building serves over 250 pre-K-12 students throughout the district. The campus has separate wings to split grade levels, and it houses collaborative common spaces like vocational technology classrooms and labs. In addition to the classrooms, an outdoor track and field, and a music and performance space, the building contains a new public library, a fitness center, and a multipurpose area.

The pre-K-12 school opened in 2019 and is an incredible community-centered and educational facility for the community of Deer Trail and its students.