Proj Overview

Project Overview

Denver Public School’s Responsive Arts & STEAM Academy FNE (RASA) aims to provide a holistic learning experience by integrating arts and music into a science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEAM) curriculum. The design for the new school was brought to life through the use of multiple building systems, including steel, mass timber, and precast concrete.

Achieving Harmonious Balance

Project architect DLR Group, in conjunction with precast concrete producer Wells, sought to create an inclusive, safe, and sustainable environment for students and the community at RASA. Excellent indoor air quality, access to daylight, and thermal comfort were among the top priorities, and the use of precast concrete products in conjunction with other materials helped ensure project success. Precast concrete’s versatility allowed components to seamlessly interface with the building’s steel framework and the cross-laminated timber (CLT) elements.

More than 200 insulated architectural precast concrete wall panels were used on the project. They required specialized connections to attach securely to the structure’s steel columns and the cross-laminated timber beams, highlighting precast concrete’s strength and adaptability. Through the combination of diverse building systems, RASA achieved a harmonious balance of durability, aesthetic appeal, and sustainability.

The architectural insulated wall panels boast a unique combination finish, highlighting the intricate design and craftmanship applied on the project. Many of the precast concrete panels span both floors of the building and are finished with shades of gray varying from the first level to the second. Each panel is adorned with horizontal, acid-washed bands that create a random ribbed pattern. To generate further visual interest, panels for other sections of the building have an orange hue. Acid-washed bands were also applied to these panels on the top and bottom, creating a checkerboard finish in the middle.

Among the primary challenges faced by the project team were those involving the complex design and installation of the spandrels that frame large openings within the building envelope. Each of the spandrels needed to accommodate heavy and eccentric loads with atypical bearing conditions and imprecise loading conditions. To address these challenges, the team implemented a strategic solution that entailed installing the steel columns at a lower height than usual. This configuration allowed the spandrels to span a greater distance while ensuring that they could bear the weight of the precast concrete panels stacked above. Given the high torsion and complex loading conditions, the connection points between the spandrels and steel columns were carefully engineered to allow for vertical movement and compression of the bearing pad. This design feature was key in preventing structural deformation.

The use of precast concrete was critical in the design and construction of RASA. The school stands as a model of innovative, sustainable, and inclusive educational design that is poised to serve the needs of its community as they evolve through time.

Mason Nichols is a Grand Rapids, Mich.-based writer and editor who has covered the precast concrete industry since 2013.

 

Awards 
2025 PCI Design AwardsK-12 School Honorable Mention
Project Team

Owner:

Denver Public Schools, Denver, Colo.

PCI-Certified Precast Concrete Producer, Precast Concrete Specialty Engineer, and PCI-Certified Erector:

Wells, Brighton, Colo.

Architect and Engineer of Record:

DLR Group, Denver, Colo.

General Contractor:

Swinerton Builders, Arvada, Colo.

Project Cost:

$51.23 million ($5.02 million for the precast concrete)

Project Size:

42,116 ft2

Key Project Attributes

  • Denver Public School’s Responsive Arts & STEAM Academy FNE (RASA) is a two-story, 42,116 ft2 facility.
  • The structure is constructed from precast concrete as well as other building systems.
  • Specialized connections were used to attach precast concrete panels to the structural steel framework and cross-laminated timber components.

Project/Precast Scope

  • The 234 insulated architectural precast concrete wall panels installed on the project are essential to the new school’s striking appearance.
  • The wall panels have an acid-washed finish that creates intricate, colorful designs.
  • Precast concrete installation was completed in less than two months, from May to July 2023.