Completed in September of 2023, the 30,000 square foot facility is the first of its kind nationwide. Functioning as part school, part mental health medical facility, Traverse Academy was designed and constructed to be non-institutional with a focus on making kids feel welcome, safe, and supported. It features three levels of care: severe, moderate, and transition. At full capacity, the facility can provide clinical mental health support and education services for up to 60 students in grades 4-12.
Planning and successfully executing the construction of the first-ever mental health facility run by a school district was no small feat. In partnership with Cherry Creek Schools, MOA Architecture, Children’s Hospital, and the CU Department of Psychiatry, the project established new industry standards. Traverse Academy now stands as a prototype for school districts nationwide, with many planning to build day treatment facilities of their own.
Built with the intention to destigmatize mental healthcare, Traverse Academy is filled with warmth and natural light. In addition to offices and therapy rooms, students and families have access to a coffee shop, gymnasium for yoga and basketball, and even an indoor rock-climbing wall. The facility features age-appropriate classrooms, art and engineering rooms, and an outdoor area complete with walking paths and amphitheater seating. As a functioning mental health treatment center, the building also presents numerous safety mechanisms like rounded corners and thoughtfully selected fixtures in classrooms and therapy rooms.
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