Construction begins this month and will be completed in phases, allowing Thornton High School to continue serving students while the new building is constructed. | Photo Credit (all): Treanor
THORNTON, Colo. — Adams 12 Five Star Schools celebrated the official groundbreaking for the new Thornton High School on Tuesday, May 19, marking a major milestone in the district’s voter-approved 2024 bond program and the future of one of the district’s longest-standing high school communities.
“Today’s groundbreaking is about honoring history, while looking ahead to new chapters,” said Thornton High School Principal Charles Arellano, a Thornton High alumnus, according to a statement from the district. “The new Thornton High School will create new opportunities for students and staff and will also carry over the pride, the relationships and the rich traditions that make the school so special.”
The new Thornton High School is one of the core projects included in the district’s 2024 bond, which was approved by voters to support investments in schools throughout the district.
Construction begins this month and will be completed in phases, allowing Thornton High School to continue serving students while the new building is constructed. The first wing of the new school is scheduled to open in summer 2028. The second wing is scheduled to be completed in winter 2029, with the completed building ready for students in fall 2030.
The project will replace the existing Thornton High School with a modern learning environment designed to support current and future students while honoring the school’s history and deep community ties. Student leaders from Thornton Elementary, a Thornton High feeder school, also participated in the ceremony, representing future Trojans who could be among the first students to attend the fully completed new school.
On the project website, Treanor noted that the design team listened closely to what project stakeholders loved, hoped for and felt was missing from the current Thornton High School facility. That feedback ultimately shaped the design.
“What’s emerged is not just a school but a cultural hub: a welcoming, inclusive space that honors tradition and fosters innovation,” the firm said. “Together, we’re creating a place of pride that honors the school’s rich heritage and paves the way for a bold, bright future.”
From open, light-filled spaces that invite collaboration to features that promote academic growth, student confidence, accessibility and wellness, the new THS is designed to support the whole student.
The design was intentionally developed to support six core career and technical education (CTE) pathways:
- Advanced Manufacturing
- Media Arts and Entertainment
- Computer Science and Digital Technology
- Culinary and Consumer Science
- Business and Entrepreneurship
- Interpretation and Translation Services
These educational pathways are woven into the layout, creating opportunities for hands-on learning spaces where students explore real-world skills and discover their passions, according to Treanor. The new curriculum is designed to accommodate the full spectrum of students who attend THS, including those seeking to build skills and enter the workforce immediately after graduation, as well as students planning to pursue higher education.
The project team also includes Accenture and Adolfson & Peterson Construction.