A4’s re-imagining of the Bar Fork Student Center is the culmination of 20 years of work with the Colorado Rocky Mountain School on a nearly comprehensive update to the campus. A4 designed 8 new buildings as well as more than 10 other renovation proj
The most visible focus of the renovation project was a major expansion of the main dining hall. A second story mezzanine was added to create more informal student activity space and accommodate larger events such as graduation.
A4’s design respects the original footprint and mountain-modern spirit of the original structure, restoring and reusing elements such as windows and stone from the original fireplace, seen at right. The result preserves elements of comforting famili
The new dining hall offers a wide variety of spaces, nooks, study areas, and seating arrangements that can accommodate many different types of activities simultaneously. The goal is to make the space as inviting and useful to as many different types
The new Bar Fork has opened to happy reviews from students, faculty, staff, administration, alumni and donors, bringing the building up to a standard befitting the hub of campus life.
A4 reconfigured the south entrance to accommodate an elevator tower and better ease of access. Climbing vines will ultimately adorn the tower’s south face. New covered outdoor classroom spaces are at left.
Additional covered outdoor gathering space was an important goal of this project. On the second story A4 delivered that and more with great views of Mt. Sopris and the campus from a generous new wraparound balcony.
The new balcony is a particular favorite with students and adults alike.
Subtle shifts to select wall planes on the ground floor of the dining hall and built-in seating banks allow the space to efficiently seat many more diners while also improving indoor-outdoor connection and expanding bike parking.
The west end of the Bar Fork underwent a less drastic renovation which was in many ways a restoration of the original design. Previous interventions had managed to both clutter and waste large amounts of space with an inefficient layout. Tacky and d
The main stair to the second story mezzanine repurposed glu-lam beams from the original roof structure as stair treads. A cleaned up and restored central hallway offers ample walls for student artwork. Opposite, new storefront windows connect the ha
A4 was honored to work with master British furniture-maker Luke Hughes on the Bar Fork project. Hughes, whose previous clients include Westminster Abbey and Oxford University, supplied beautiful oak tables and chairs that elevate the design quality
Original wood glu-lam roof beams were retained in the renovation, but were not up to the task of carrying the new load of the mezzanine and roof. A4 turned this engineering challenge into a design opportunity by using a rod detail that hangs the cen
Another view of the steel hanging rods in the context of the overall space. A similar design language carries into the new roof structure, which carries an extensive solar array. The symmetry of the original space was retained but reoriented towards
The Bar Fork exemplifies A4’s principles of Appropriateness, Practicality, Sustainability and Delight. For Colorado Rocky Mountain School, the new student center dramatically advances their goals of strengthening the boarding and student life progra
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