Explore Campus Expansion PK-8
Explore Campus/Preschool on Poze - 2022 Mill Levy
In August, the Board of Education approved the selection of JHL Constructors and Hord | Coplan | Macht Architects (HCM) to serve as the design and construction team for the new school facility to house Explore Primary.
The JHL/HCM team designed and built the current Explore building on time and on budget. The building has performed well since its opening, and we are excited to continue our partnership with JHL/HCM. This project is made possible by generous community support of Mapleton’s 2022 Mill Levy override, aimed at addressing important improvements and renovations to the district’s “Final Four” buildings. Explore Primary will replace Preschool on Poze, which is currently housed in one of the oldest buildings in the district.
Construction Updates
Explore Primary - Monday, Oct. 9, 2025
Yesterday, Mapleton families and staff gathered to celebrate an exciting milestone — the groundbreaking for Explore Primary, the second of Mapleton’s “Final Four” school rebuilds made possible by our community’s support of the 2022 mill levy.
Explore Primary will welcome preschool through first-grade students in one of Mapleton’s fastest-growing neighborhoods, expanding the Explore campus and creating new opportunities for our youngest learners. The existing Explore building will be remodeled to serve grades 3–8, ensuring that every student can continue to grow and thrive within the Explore community.
Every detail of the new Explore Primary will honor the rich farming and ranching heritage of the land it stands on — a tribute to the area’s deep roots and bright future.
A heartfelt thank-you to Hord Coplan Macht, JHL Constructors, and Accenture for your partnership, creativity, and collaboration — and to the entire Mapleton community for investing in our schools, our students, and our future.
Explore Primary - Monday, May 5, 2025
Interior colors and design plans for the new Explore Primary (PK–1) building were the focus of an exciting recent meeting between Mapleton, JHL Constructors, and HCM Architects.
Explore Primary will feature a warm, welcoming environment with a Scandinavian-inspired design, including pastel colors, lighter wood tones, muted carpets, and polished concrete floors. In a nod to the site's rich farmland history, playful barnyard animal elements will be featured throughout the building.
Designed with our youngest learners in mind, the building will also include dedicated spaces for a library, music and gym classes, and a café. Explore Primary is the second project in Mapleton’s “Final Four” capital improvement program, approved by voters in 2022. York International School and Achieve Academy are next on the list—stay tuned for more updates as construction moves forward!
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Preschool on Poze, originally Clayton Intermediate School, is home to a thriving early learning setting. Unfortunately, as one of Mapleton’s oldest buildings – constructed in 1960 and designed for 5th and 6th graders – the structure leaves much to be desired for the district’s youngest learners. Using funds from the 2016 bond, the building received a very modest renovation two years ago. Mapleton’s long-term facilities plan includes opening a new early learning center in the district, potentially near the new Explore PreK-8 on 104th Avenue and York Street.
Since opening, Explore PreK-8 has been at capacity at almost every grade level, and more families are interested in attending Explore every school year. The design and construction teams that helped establish the vision of the Explore PreK-8 site, Hord Coplan Macht and JHL, have put together a design that changes the current Explore building into a 3rd-8th grade school, expanding enrollment opportunities for those grade levels. Next to Explore, Mapleton is considering building a PreK-2 school, offering expanded access to early learning and creating a “campus-like” environment for families.