Pinkard Construction has started a large renovation in Lakewood to convert the former Emory Elementary School building, which closed in 2022, into a new community campus. The project will create a site for workforce training, community college classes, behavioral health services, gymnasium programming, and family support services.
The campus will be owned and anchored by The Action Center, a nonprofit that has served Jefferson County and the Denver Metro Area for more than 50 years. Its services include a market with groceries, hygiene items, and clothing, along with financial assistance, education opportunities, and connections to other community resources.
As part of the renovation, The Action Center will relocate and expand its operations. The campus will also include other partner organizations, including Jefferson County Public Health. The planned renovation footprint covers 82,000 square feet of a 100,000+ square foot building and is expected to expand as additional partners occupy the remaining 20,000 square feet.
Much of the building will be gutted and reconfigured. Planned spaces include office areas, a combined free food and free clothing market, health clinics, a café, and an education center. The work also includes updates to building systems and upgrades to features such as access controls and skylights, windows, and floors.
Exterior work will include excavation, stormwater utilities, parking lot upgrades, a community garden, and a detention pond. The project also includes the construction of a 7,000 square foot freestanding structure to support The Action Center’s food hub with storage and distribution, including refrigeration and freezer space.
In addition to the renovation for The Action Center, Pinkard is carrying out $1.9 million in tenant improvements for a health clinic run by Jefferson County Public Health. Total construction for The Action Center’s portion is valued at $13.2 million. Construction is scheduled to take 12 months, with the possibility of added scope if more partners join the campus.
The project is the latest step in ongoing collaboration between Pinkard Construction and The Action Center, which are both based in Lakewood. Pinkard previously helped The Action Center with renovations and expansions, including work tied to its headquarters purchase in 1991 and later conversions of nearby space in 2001 and 2014.
Source: Press Release
