“First Look: Future Three Springs Elementary School” event will take place Wednesday, Nov. 6, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at CommonSpirit/Mercy Medical Center, Conference Rooms A & B, located near the cafeteria.*
First Look offers a chance to see the architectural concepts for the new school — an exciting milestone in the district’s 2024 Investing in Our Schools Bond projects. The design for the school has been developing over the spring and summer months with input from a Design Advisory Group (DAG) made up of Three Springs residents, educators, parents, district staff, and community members working alongside the project architects.
Chris Coleman, Chief Operations Officer for Durango School District, adds notes to a design board during a Design Advisory Group meeting. The group worked together to plan for the new elementary school in Three Springs on July 8 at Impact Career Innovation Center.
Guests will be able to explore visual displays at their own pace, talk with district leaders, architects, builders, and members of the DAG, and learn more about key project features, including:
- Project timeline and logistics
- Exterior and interior design
- Innovation hub and learning communities
- Outdoor orientation and playground concepts
- New road, parking, traffic, and bike trail plans
First Look will build community excitement and provide transparency about the district’s bond progress. Attendees may share informal feedback via a digital form or ask individual questions during the event, but this is not a formal Q&A session or community forum.
RTA Architect Ken Gregg points out a preliminary plan for a bus roundabout in an early design of the elementary school at Three Springs on July 8 at Impact.
“Our new elementary school design is truly visionary,” said Dr. Karen Cheser, superintendent of Durango School District. “It connects students to the outdoors and natural elements while creating flexible, future-focused learning spaces. With a central media center and collaborative learning communities, this school represents where education is headed — and what’s possible when innovation meets nature.”
Construction of the new elementary school is expected to begin in 2026, with doors opening to students in 2028.
IF YOU GO: Directions to Common Spirit/Mercy Medical Conference Room event venue: Enter through the main hospital entrance and take a left. Go through the doors toward Public Elevators A-B and Emergency. Once you pass through this area, shortly ahead will be an elevator bank (on the right). Take the elevator down one floor to "G". When you exit the elevator follow the signs to the Conference Center. Follow the long hallway down and Conference Rooms A & B will be on your left.