(January 18, 2012) (DENVER) — Head of School Mike Davis, and the Colorado Academy Board of Trustees today announced the launch of a public capital campaign to raise dollars for construction of a new Upper School Building. The $11 Million “Build the Future Now” campaign, which has been in a “silent” phase since the summer, has reached $8.25 million in commitments. “We are now inviting the full community to join in this exciting project, and help us to quickly reach our goal,” says Davis.
After the board identified the Upper School as a critical facilities need during the strategic planning process, two anonymous donors stepped forward with million-dollar gifts to jump-start the campaign. Donors also issued a challenge to complete fundraising and construction by January 2013.
A silent campaign ensued. The Board of Trustees will decide by mid-March whether fundraising goals have been met, and whether to move forward with an early-June groundbreaking. “We have a prime window of opportunity during which to take advantage of low construction costs and to minimize the time our student will be out of their building,” says Board President John Fenley. “This is the right project at the right time,” he said.
The new Upper School will be a state-of-the-art, two-story structure that will increase overall square footage by 40% and increase current classroom size by one-third. The existing Knowles Upper School was built in 1964.
Plans also call for an innovation lab, a multi-purpose lecture hall, math and science labs, collaborative learning spaces that lend themselves to cross-disciplinary study in the Humanities, and a variety of inviting spaces for faculty and students to meet and study.
Meetings are being held on campus with students in grades eight through 12 to share construction and scheduling plans. Davis and the board will host a series of informational meetings for parents in the coming weeks. Within the next few days you will receive a document describing the Campaign and inviting you to participate in the success of the drive by making a gift or a 3-year pledge to help us meet the Challenge and get the funds necessary to begin construction in June. Or you can go to a dedicated website featuring architectural renderings, interviews, and more information at www.buildthefuturenow.org .
“This building will provide our students with the best possible environment in which to learn and to spend their high school careers,” says Davis. “Our sincere hope is that the community will continue its strong support of CA and its efforts to deliver a 21st century education in a top-notch facility.”
