New Clifton Community Campus Enhances Quality of Life for Residents
This state-of-the-art facility, which includes an RDG-designed early childhood education center, marks the completion of a project designed to promote a better quality of life for all.
On June 22, 2024, representatives from RDG Planning & Design joined community members and funders to celebrate the official opening of the Clifton Community Campus, a state-of-the-art facility designed to enhance community engagement and provide vital services to residents of Mesa County. This long-awaited milestone marks a new beginning for Clifton residents and the completion of a project designed to promote a better quality of life by offering various accessible services and resources.
The new 13-acre campus, nestled in the valley of the Western Slope of Clifton, Colorado, between an elementary school and a residential neighborhood, draws its aesthetic from the colors and striations in the local landscape. The campus includes a public library branch and a multifunction facility that addresses many community needs in a single building. Located in the same building but operating independently is an early childhood education center, a workforce training center and a community hall. RDG worked closely with local partners and stakeholders to design the campus' early childhood education center, working to create a space where Mesa County's youngest members can learn, play and thrive.
"As this project evolved, the weaving together of early education, workforce training, and community engagement became a clear goal. This convergence of early learning and community development is a trend we are seeing across the nation as more and more communities recognize the pivotal role of early education centers," said RDG Architect and Partner Molly Haas, AIA. "With the completion of this campus, Mesa County stands at the forefront of early childhood education, workforce development, and community support. We are excited to see the Clifton Community continue to thrive and, again, so honored to have been a part of the process."
The Clifton Community Childcare Center houses early childhood services within its office space, transforming the facility into a comprehensive early childhood one-stop shop that provides essential services and resources to families in the community. RDG's design for the center creates a space for high-quality childcare for children ages six weeks to 5 years and care for older children when school is not in session. Each of the 12 classrooms has direct access to outdoor learning environments designed for age-appropriate play and exploration, while administrative spaces, a computer lab and meeting rooms offer flexibility for community activities and services. Metal panels in saturated tones of desert reds and dusk blues serve as wayfinding markers to different program areas in the building, and perforated metal panels create plaza spaces that connect indoor and outdoor activities.
The opening of the Clifton Community Childcare Center has significantly increased the capacity of childcare services in Clifton. Before the opening, Clifton's childcare capacity stood at a mere 1.7% for the population of 3,500 children; with the new facility, this capacity has increased to 7.4%, more than quadrupling the availability of childcare in the area.