Read the amazing story of Superintendent Rocco Fuschetto’s immigration to the U.S., the genesis of a path that would eventually lead him to the Ignacio School District. RTA has been blessed to work with Dr. Fuschetto for more than a decade, seeing firsthand his deep commitment to his students, staff, and community. 

Congratulations to RTA Principal Stuart Coppedge on his successful EDsession at EDspaces 2017 Our prayers and best wishes go out for Ignacio School District Superintendent Rocco Fuschetto, who was supposed to tell the Ignacio story with Stuart but fell seriously ill. If you missed the presentation you can read more about the Ignacio elementary, middle school, and high school.

RTA was honored to receive two design awards from the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Colorado and two from the International Interior Design Association (IIDA) Rocky Mountain Chapter. AIA Colorado and AIA Colorado South recognized the Moffat PK-12 school in Moffat, CO with an Award of Merit and an Honorable Mention respectively. The IIDA Rocky Mountain Chapter honored Craig Hospital in Englewood, CO as the winner in the GIVE Category, and Ignacio High School in Ignacio, CO with a Merit Award in the LEARN Category.

A big thank you to the Moffat and Ignacio communities, the staff and patients of Craig Hospital, and our design partners for all their contributions to the success of these projects! Click on the images below to learn more.

Moffat PK-12 School
AIA CO Award of Merit
AIA CO South Honorable Mention

Craig Hospital
IIDA Rocky Mountain GIVE Category Winner

Ignacio High School
IIDA Rocky Mountain LEARN Category Award of Merit

Ignacio Elementary School was recently certified LEED Gold by the U.S. Green Building Council. The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System is a point-based benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of high-performance green buildings. LEED Gold status illustrates a very high level of sustainability.

Ignacio’s PK-5 Elementary School is the second building in district-wide Master Plan led by RTA. This Master Plan included the renovation of three existing school buildings and the design of a brand new middle school. In the second phase of the Master Plan, the existing intermediate (grades 4-6) building was renovated into what is now Ignacio Elementary. Existing and new classrooms were designed as flexible learning spaces with enhanced acoustics, daylighting through tubular daylighting devices and expansive exterior windows, and the ability to accommodate current and future technology upgrades. The high-performing, sustainable facility also uses a Geo Exchange System, a roof-mounted 50kW Photovoltaic Array, LED lighting throughout, and low-water native plants for landscaping.

The implementation of LEED sustainability standards is important to reduce the building’s impact on the environment, to improve operating costs, and, most importantly, to create an environment that produces happier, healthier, and more productive students. High-performing facilities can improve comfort, promote learning, and advance productivity, while saving energy and doing what is right for our community. RTA chooses to live by these principles because they help create exceptional architecture.

Ignacio School District 11-JT is proud of their new elementary school because it reflects their values and aspirations. 

On Saturday August 15, 2015, Ignacio High School held its grand opening and ceremonial ribbon cutting. Superintendent Rocco Fuschetto led the ceremony, and dignitaries such as Colorado State Representative J. Paul Brown, Mayor of Ignacio Stella Cox, President of Fort Lewis College Dr. Dene Kay Thomas, and several Sothern Ute Tribal Council representatives participated in the event.

Design for this project began in January of 2012 and was completed over a year-and-a-half later in November of 2013. Construction began in March of 2014 and finished this month. Interestingly, while construction was in process, high school students were housed in the old elementary school building, which was empty because the new, RTA-designed elementary school was finished in 2013. Obviously, this was not an ideal situation for growing high school kids. However, students are now more excited than ever to be in their new school.

A unique part of this project’s story is that the bond to fund the design and construction of the new elementary, middle, and high school buildings passed by a single vote. Now Ignacio School District reminds everyone that “Every vote counts!” Another unique element of this project is that the new high school combines the previous middle school and high school buildings into one unified facility. Also, there are historic elements from the old building included in the new school, such as the gymnasium and tile mosaics. One of the biggest changes to the old building is improved student security and site circulation through distinguishable parking and drop-off areas, a recognizable main entrance, and overall enhanced organization.

Several unique highlights of the new school’s design include a state-of-the-art auditorium to support the growing performing arts program, synthetic turf football and baseball fields, and Southern Ute Bear Dance photographs that were digitized into dramatic graphics and strategically placed throughout the school.

RTA staff members Stuart Coppedge, Brian Calhoun, Ken Gregg, Greg Johnson, and Rick Taves had the privilege of participating in the event and enjoyed touring the new high school with the proud Ignacio community.

Excerpt from article by Melanie Mazur, as published in the Durango Herald:

New Ignacio school buildings built for future; they incorporate energy efficiency, technology, comfort.

How do you build schools that provide a better learning experience for students and teachers?

In the process of creating three new school buildings, for about $50 million, the Ignacio School District built them with energy efficiency, natural light and technology to create a better experience for students. 

It’s far different from the buckets lining the hallway that collected water from leaking ceilings. That’s what used to greet students when they walked through the door at Ignacio High School.

Read More from The Durango Herald

RTA announced the completion of four Colorado school projects opening across the state last month. The four schools span the State of Colorado and welcomed students returning to school for the 2013-2014 school year. The four newly designed schools are:

• Boulder Valley School District’s Mapleton Early Childhood Center
• Calhan School District’s PK-12 school
• Ignacio Middle School, in southwestern Colorado
• Holly School, in southeastern Colorado

RTA’s design team Doug Abernethy and Mike Riggs, along with RTA’s joint venture partner Alan Ford Architects, attended a ribbon cutting ceremony for the Mapleton Early Childhood Education Center to mark the school's opening. They were joined by Adolfson & Peterson Construction, school staff, parents, students, and members of the community. This $4 million project transformed the historic Mapleton School into Boulder Valley School District’s first early education center.

Calhan School’s ribbon cutting ceremony marked the reopening of their PK-12 building and was attended by RTA’s design team Brian Calhoun, Mike Riggs, and Ken Gregg. Also attending were GH Phipps Construction, Vanir Construction Management, school staff, parents, students, and community members. The $2 million project was funded in part by a BEST grant and provided needed upgrades and improvements to Calhan’s PK-12 building.

An opening ceremony was held on August 29 for Ignacio Middle School. The new school is a dynamic, energy-efficient 21st century learning environment reflecting the community’s multi-cultural heritage and is the first phase of a district-wide master plan completed by RTA Architects in 2011. The school was built by FCI Constructors of Durango.

Holly School District’s $24 million BEST grant project provided for a new PK-12 school, athletic fields and a renovated vocational technical building. In addition to the new state-of-the-art gymnasium, the existing historic WPA-era gymnasium was preserved and renovated. Construction was recently completed by Adolfson & Peterson Construction of Denver.