Wold Architects and Engineers, a national firm with a local office in Denver and extensive educational design expertise, has broken ground on the new McClave PK-12 School. A community celebration in early November, attended by students, staff, and residents, marked the start of construction on McClave School District’s first comprehensive, purpose-built PK-12 campus.
The future 70,000-square-foot school represents a transformational investment in the district’s future. Made possible through a successful BEST grant application and a community-supported bond election, the project reflects years of planning, engagement, and collaboration among the District, Wold, and project partners Artaic Group and Nunn Construction. Together, the partners developed strategic funding materials, conducted community outreach and built consensus around a vision that honors McClave’s pride, values and high academic standards.
The need for a new facility is significant: McClave’s current K-12 school was built over multiple phases between 1962 and 2010, and older portions of the building now require major repair or replacement. A relocated campus will not only address these pressing needs, but will also provide a modern, efficient and future-focused learning environment for generations of students.
“As construction officially begins, we’re honored to help bring the community’s vision for the future of McClave PK-12 to life,” said Job Gutierrez, education practice leader at Wold Architects and Engineers. “Through a partnership grounded in collaboration, persistence and strategic funding support, this new school is designed to match the District’s high aspirations, creating learning environments that empower students, celebrate local identity and elevate the rural education experience.”
Designed to support the full PK-12 continuum, the school features dedicated elementary and secondary wings, a modern Career and Technical Education (CTE) shop and a state-of-the-art competition gymnasium. Thoughtfully sited along the current school’s existing track and field, the new campus provides strong indoor-outdoor connections, including cafeteria views to the athletic complex. A robust nature-based learning network enhances instruction with an outdoor classroom, pollinator garden, landscaped instructional beds, athletics/PE flex space and a CTE boneyard for vocational learning that supports agricultural education, culinary programs, science and hands-on outdoor instruction.
The southwest wing includes a fully upgraded CTE area with a welding lab, large instructional workshop spaces and secure storage. The east and south wings provide age-specific learning environments: a preschool wing with its own secure entry, elementary classrooms organized around shared flex spaces and junior and senior high areas with science labs, reading intervention spaces and collaboration zones, each designed for safety, focus and modern educational needs.
Planned as the new home of the Cardinals, the facility will serve as a hub of academic, athletic and community life, supporting student growth while strengthening ties across the District.
“This milestone reflects years of determination to provide a better home for our students,” said McClave Superintendent Brianne Howe. “It’s an investment in the next generation of Cardinals: a high-performing school to match a high-performing and deserving student body.”
Construction, led by Nunn Construction, is scheduled to continue through 2027.
