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RFP Process

For those interested, we are happy to share a little about the RFP Process.

We received seven responsive proposals to our RFP. They were evaluated based on the following criteria:

• Technical Competency (capability and qualifications) and Approach
• Company Demonstrated Renovation Experience, Urban School Design Experience, and Comprehensive Community Engagement Plan
• Past Performance with K12 Design and Architecture, Historic Preservation, Urban Development, Transformational Designs

An evaluation team consisting of district employees assessed the proposals against the solicitation evaluation criteria and selected the top technically highest ranked firms for interviews.

Four local architectural firms were invited to participate in the interview process. While all firms are local, three of the four elected to partner with architects outside the region to strengthen their teams.

The interview panel consisted of:

• District Staff from various departments
• Palmer High School Principal and Staff Member
• Palmer High School Student
• Palmer High School Alumnus
• Board of Education Member
• Community Representatives, including the City of Colorado Springs Urban Planning, the Downtown Development community, and a Downtown Arts Liaison

The team unanimously selected RTA Architects, in partnership with Perkins Eastman, as the firm demonstrating the highest capability to deliver the following:

• A transformational vision for Palmer that will enhance the learning environment, activate the IB philosophy for learning, and promote improved achievement for all Palmer students.
• A robust, intentional, and comprehensive community engagement plan that actively involves all Palmer stakeholders to gather feedback on conceptual design options. Through transparent, frequent, and meaningful communication, they ensure the design is developed in partnership with the Palmer community.
• The combined experience of the team, including over 15 years of experience with complex local projects and a national team with proven K12 urban renovation expertise, demonstrated by research-based academic learning environments that have increased student outcomes.
• A school renovation that aligns with the vision for the downtown master plan and re-engages the school with the surrounding community.

Project Vision for Aspiring Architectural Design Firms

In 1871, General William Palmer and his partner Abraham Bell founded Colorado Springs with a visionary mission: to create an excellent, thriving city. General Palmer once stated: “My theory for this place is that it should be made the most attractive place for homes in the west—a place for schools, colleges, literature, science, first-class newspapers and everything that the above imply.” True to his vision, within twenty years, Palmer established the city's first public high school—The Colorado Springs School, now known as William J. Palmer High School. This institution became a beacon of life, community, and values, proving that the West could build cities of substance with high-quality education, opportunity, and rich culture, not just outposts.

Today, we stand at a crossroads, poised to restore and elevate that founding vision. As we strive to become the #1 midsize city in America, reinvesting in public education is paramount. The large-scale renovation of Palmer High School is a transformative endeavor that will reaffirm our commitment to educational excellence and community success.

Imagine a Palmer High School that reinserts itself into our downtown ecosystem as a center of engagement and inspiration, standing as a testament to what we can achieve when we invest in our future and honor our past. This project will create a legacy of educational excellence and community vitality that will propel Colorado Springs into the future, embodying the visionary spirit of General Palmer.

Given the opportunity and ambition encompassed within this project, the contract will include a comprehensive community engagement effort that will be imperative to identifying a design that marries the vision with the feedback of a wide array of stakeholders. To design a project that meets the needs of the community, seamlessly embedding itself while also elevating and articulating a vision for excellence will require robust knowledge of and engagement with the surrounding community—past, present, and future.

Schedule for Soliciting, Reviewing, and Selecting a Architectural Design Firm