The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
Final expansion push, roundabout next year
by Kendra Walker
The Crested Butte Community School’s expansion and improvements project is nearing the finish line this summer. With students out of school for the summer break, crews are working on the final elements of the project, including the secondary school lower and upper level expansions, south parking lot remodel and landscaping.
Matt Prinster of Artaic Group, the district’s owner’s representative for the project, presented a school construction update with the Gunnison Watershed School District board, sharing that the district is at “a critical juncture in the project,” with construction work progressing quickly in the secondary school areas.
Prinster also gave a big shout out to Crested Butte teachers and staff in their efforts to move out of the building following the end of the school year. “A big thanks for putting in extra effort to get us ready for construction this summer,” he said.
To make room for the south parking lot construction, the school’s modular classrooms that were on the south side have been moved and split into sections to haul off. Crews have begun demolition of the parking lot. Construction of the CBSC building expansion project is slated for completion by the end of the summer.
The district is working in partnership with the town of Crested Butte on the Red Lady Roundabout. The design is at 90% completion and under review by Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT). Once the town and school district receive feedback in the coming weeks, the town will go out to bid to finalize pricing by early August. According to superintendent Leslie Nichols, the current estimate brings the district total contribution to approximately $1.7 million.
The hope is to begin initial utility work for the Red Lady roundabout this year, with the bulk of the roundabout construction taking place in 2027. “Hopefully we can get some work done this summer,” said Prinster.
