Following a year of renovations, remodels, and additions, the school district decided to pursue a master plan design for an athletic addition at Niwot High School.
Currently, the district-wide competition equipment for gymnastics occupies the small gym throughout the fall, preventing PE classes to overflow from the main gym. The wrestling loft above the main gym is only large enough for team practice.
Additionally, the existing football field is used for track, football, marching band, soccer, lacrosse, and many other school-wide events. However there is currently no formal spectator seating, no exterior lighting, no access control to the field, and the existing turf field is in dire need of repair.
In an effort to address the schools numerous athletic challenges, the proposed addition would include a large competition gymnastics space with spectator seating, a large wrestling room, locker rooms and changing areas with offices for coaches and officials, public restrooms, concessions, and field storage. The field would be improved to include new synthetic turf with stadium seating, lighting, an announcers booth, and a continuously controlled perimeter to allow the school to hold district-wide games. It would also house a few PE spaces such as a large weight room, a large aerobics room, and supporting offices and storage spaces.
The challenges that came with this project included code-required separations from the existing building while keeping the space continuous for safety and security, a large drop in elevation from one end of the site to the other, and the area of the building that currently houses athletics and PE such as the gym and locker rooms are also associated with the main entry into the large auditorium. Due to the programmatic and site-related issues, the addition required dual, multi-level entries and a cohesive delineation between them to guide visitors and students alike. (project architect - work completed with RB+B Architects)
LOCATED: NIwot, Colorado
STATUS: Unbuilt design study