Boulder - Watershed School
Address: 5405 & 5400 Spine Rd Boulder CO 80301
Architect: Caddis Collaborative
Caddis Collaborative
Stephen is a registered architect with 30+ years of experience in residential and commercial design and construction. Prior to joining Caddis, he led Eckalizzi Design and taught at the University of Colorado Boulder’s School of Environmental Design. He also taught a design/build program at the Lama Foundation in Taos, NM, overseeing community projects for a decade. His portfolio includes single-family, multi-family, and school projects. Dedicated to affordable housing, he has served on the Boulder Housing Partners board and currently sits on Boulder’s Design Advisory Board. In his free time, Stephen enjoys traveling and has visited over 40 countries.
https://caddispc.com/Builder: Faurot Construction
MEP: Boulder Engineering
Structural: GFE Structural
Other: University of Colorado ENVD - Jade Polizzi
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SUMMARY
Built: 2025
Size: 31,231-SF
Budget: $2,400,000 (5% ➔ performance premiums)
Type: Retrofit, Adaptive Reuse, Urban Infill
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NARRATIVE
The new Watershed School complex located on 5405 & 5400 Spine Road in Boulder, Gunnbarrel, is an adaptive reuse of two existing buildings: one a traditional suburban corporate office building and the other a previous warehouse. After a seven-year search for either land or an existing school facility, Watershed decided they needed to think outside the box, and convert an existing office complex into a school.
Known for experiential education and a strong outdoor leadership curriculum, Watershed wanted the remodel to be as "green" as possible, despite a shoestring budget. Most features involve recycling existing parts and pieces from the previous tenants into the new school.
Careful consideration of the existing floorplan, and how it could be converted to work for the school, allowed the project to save as many existing components as possible. Energy upgrades were limited to required city standards, but future planning will allow an overhaul once current systems are obsolete. The Watershed School remodel represents an exciting collaboration between school philosophy and the power of making what you have work given a strictly limited budget.
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MATERIALS & CONSERVATION
Much of the insulation, interior glass and doors were reused throughout project. It may seem a simple thing, but its easier for the GC to discard these items, rather than repurpose them. We carefully cataloged the items, including door hardware to find the best location. Concrete floors were finished with Bioshield wax, providing a completely no-toxic and extremely durable surface.
Featured Sponsors
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SPECIFICATIONS
WINDOWS
Reuse of existing
ENVELOPE + INSULATION
Reuse of existing thermal envelope. R-10 wet blown cellulose was added for sound and insulation to #5400.
MECHANICAL
Reuse of existing system
ERV: 2 were added to the existing RTU's
OTHER GREEN FEATURES
EV Chargers (4)
Induction Cooktop
Additional Sponsors
