colorado school to see $50 million renovation

A mostly one-story brick school building that has served three generations of students in the town of Buena Vista, Colorado is about to receive a long-anticipated redesign and rebuilding.

Buena Vista voters last November, after earlier turning down a larger obligation bond to fund the renovation project, approved $29.5 million in funding to upgrade a school built in 1964.

That ballot victory came after officials with the Buena Vista School District conducted a public information effort pointing out the structural deficiencies with the current school at 559 S. Railroad Street.

Among those issues, according to Colorado Department of Education documents, is a fire system not up to code; out-of-date plumbing and mechanical systems; and a general lack of Americans with Disabilities Act compliance.

The renovation project, as designed by the architectural firm Treanor HL, which has offices in Denver, is receiving additional funding from Colorado’s Building Excellent Schools Today program.

BEST, which is supported partly through marijuana sales excise taxes and proceeds from the Colorado Lottery, will be providing funding in the amount of $21.3 million.

If all goes as planned, work renovating the Buena Vista school will launch by early next spring.

Located in central Colorado, the combined Buena Vista High School and Middle School have a current enrollment of just under 300 students.

By Garry Boulard

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