Durango School District 9-R has purchased additional space in the Columbine Center building at 281 Sawyer Drive, marking a significant change for Big Picture High School.
Previously located at 150 Tech Center Drive, Big Picture High School now has a permanent home following the $2.4 million purchase finalized Friday.
In 2023, the school was temporarily relocated to the Durango Tech Center after the district sold its former administration building parcel at 201 E. 12th Street, including Big Picture’s former location, to Durango Fire Protection District in December 2021.
The district then moved its administrative offices to the bottom floor in the Columbine Center in January 2024, after purchasing it from La Plata County in November 2023.
But with the latest purchase, the district will occupy most of the top floor of the Columbine Center along with an additional 2,800 square-foot space on the first floor.
“Our Big Picture family is thrilled that the district is able to invest in the future of our program, our unendingly dedicated staff, our amazing students, and our entire BP school community,” said Samantha Tower, principal of Big Picture High School. “As we continue to refine the remodel project over the next few months, we are excited to work to include staff and students in the design process.”
The new BPHS location will occupy about 12,700 square feet on the top floor of the Columbine Center. A major remodel is planned to begin in spring 2025, with the goal of upgrading the space to accommodate Big Picture High School's relocation.
The purchase was funded by proceeds from the sale of the district’s former administration building at 201 E. 12th St. and Buckley Park earlier in 2024. BPHS is scheduled to move into its new facility in the fall of 2026, following the expiration of its current lease at the Durango Tech Center.
“This aligns with the recommendations of our Long-Range Planning Committee and the Board of Education’s priority of moving from leased real estate to owning our own buildings,” said 9-R Chief Operations Officer Chris Coleman, in a news release. “An added bonus is keeping BPHS students and staff near town, in Bodo Park, on a transit route, and in the same building as our district office.”
Coleman said it was ideal for the district to have access to public transit because Big Picture students are often involved with internships.
Additionally, the district is exploring uses for the newly acquired first-floor area, with potential options including space for the district’s technology department or future BPHS expansion.
Community Connections, a nonprofit organization, will remain in the building, while La Plata County Public Health will relocate.
“Most of our programs will be moving to 185 Suttle St., previously occupied by Axis Health, in Bodo Park. This move is scheduled to take place in the first few weeks of January,” said La Plata County Public Health spokesman Todd Macon in an email Monday.
The public health clinic will remain at the Sawyer Drive location through March before relocating to the Axis Health System Durango Integrated Healthcare Center at 150 Mercury Village Drive, Macon said.
The public health department’s water lab, currently located in the Columbine Center, will relocate to the Durango Tech Center in March.
This acquisition is part of a broader effort by the district to enhance its facilities. In July, the district purchased a 4,113-square-foot building at 104 Sheppard Drive for $1.4 million.
This building will undergo renovations beginning in spring 2025 and will serve as the permanent home for The Hub, a therapeutic district program, starting in fall 2025.
Coleman said the district has prioritized property purchases over leasing as part of its efforts to improve facilities.
tbrown@durangoherald.com
