Rocky Mountain School of Expeditionary Learning
Denver, CO
The Rocky Mountain School of Expeditionary Learning (RMSEL) in Denver, Colo. is an innovative program founded on the ideals of Outward Bound, with the curriculum organized around multidisciplinary learning expeditions. RMSEL is located in a former elementary school building that had been abandoned and was in desperate need of a facelift. To give the school new life, the two oldest portions of the existing building were demolished and a large new masonry screen wall was constructed to cover the opening. This wall faces the busy street, with large windows designed to reveal some of the activity going on inside the school. A dramatic new elevator tower and entry vestibule anchor the new entrance, improving internal accessibility while enhancing the school’s outward visibility. The unusual brick patterning was inspired by existing elements found on one portion of the school, while the tall, heavily textured wall alludes to the rock-climbing adventures encountered by the students as a part of their expeditionary learning experiences. Tension cables, reminiscent of climbing ropes, support the new canopy and reinforce the school’s identity.