To commemorate the beginning of the reconstruction of the Cherry Creek High School campus, the interim superintendent, Jennifer Perry, held a ceremony to kick off demolition of the Education Services building. The ceremony was held on May 15., included a multitude of speeches, and marked the beginning of the construction of the new West building.
“The school we begin rebuilding today will serve students for decades to come, long after today’s headlines and current challenges have passed,” Perry said, “Young people will walk through these halls discovering who they are, what they love, and what they want to contribute to the world.”
The school board hopes the reconstruction will elevate the learning experience for many future Bruins with new and improved halls, security, and maintenance throughout the buildings.
“This is more than a new building. It’s an investment in opportunity, excellence, and the future of every student who will walk through these doors for decades to come,” CCSD Board of Education President Anne Egan said.
This construction will be a two-phase process. Phase 1 includes the demolition and reconstruction of the West building in 2026. The West building will be separated into two distinct buildings following its reconstruction, one for academics and another for athletics. Phase 2, if passed, will demolish and rebuild the other buildings at Creek. Reconstruction is expected to be finished by the summer of 2028, thus, the class of 2029 will be the first to experience the new buildings.
“I can assure you, class of 2029 is ready to continue the legacy the school holds, the meaning of being a Bruin, and continuing to strive for greatness,” future Sophomore Class President Debbie Gab-Ojukwu said, “but we are also ready to revolutionize and do even greater things with the construction of this new building.”
For many, the Creek campus and community have become a staple in their lives. Even after graduation, many alumni feel very connected to the school.
Former Alumni Meghan Babcock moved back to Colorado for the sole purpose of sending her two children to Cherry Creek High School in order for them to receive the same education she did.
“I am so thrilled, excited, proud, and honestly a little emotional that my own children and so many future Bruins will get to experience Cherry Creek High School on this beautiful, new and improved campus,” Babcock said.
The rebuild will include elements from the current campus as well. The lecture hall in West will still be called Shillinglaw, named after Creek’s second principal, Leonard Shillinglaw.
“We don’t want to lose any of our identity, because there’s so much of our past that’s important in our roots,” Principal Silva said.
The reconstruction aims to memorialize the past generations while simultaneously improving the campus for future Cherry Creek High School students.
“Now we turn the page in our history book, look back and now to the future, and move forward together,” Perry said.
