Denver Public Schools RASA ECE-8 School

Location: Denver, CO

Owner: Denver Public Schools

Client: DLR Group

Award: ENR Mountain States 2025 Award of Merit, K-12 Education and Best Sustainability

  • Phased ECE–8 school supporting rapid growth in northeast Denver 
  • Architect-led team by DLR Group, with integrated stakeholder and community coordination 
  • Mechanical and plumbing engineering by 360 Engineering, aligned with DPS standards and long-term operations 
  • DPS’s first all-electric school, using heat pump HVAC, electric domestic hot water, and induction kitchen equipment 
  • Collaborative evaluation of HVAC alternatives, including geothermal feasibility and lifecycle cost analysis 
  • Mechanical system solution: Variable Air Volume (VAV) air-source heat pump air handlers with exhaust energy recovery to best meet the District’s goals for energy efficiency, electrification, maintainability, and construction budget 
  • Energy modeling and contractor coordination to balance performance, constructability, and budget 
  • Delivered by Swinerton Builders in two phases (2024 and 2025 completions) 
  • Early performance results: adjusted Energy Use Intensity (EUI) in the low 30s, well below Denver’s K–12 benchmark of 48.1 

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