Historical Preservation Project

PROJECT #1: ENTRY

Status: Complete, september 2020

Overview:

• Refresh paint in spirit color accents
• Stencil frosted historic first logos on door glass
• Possible wall graphics

Project Description:

A Boulder High experience begins at the front door. The space is current vastly used for temporary storage and display of some dated banners. While the unfortunately placed ceiling-mounted mechanical unit is directly in front of the entry doors, the space can still be improved. Door mounted notices can be relocated to another central location. Location will need to be determined based on the immediacy of need to communication information on these paper printouts (or develop a more permanent means to display emergency notifications).

Project #2: Upper Wall Ring

Overview:

• Faces of Boulder High visual tapestry; many time periods–Seeing ourselves in faces of the past

Project Description: We Come and go

• Around the upper walls, a series of images of Boulder students, all in black and white, show how we are both similar and different from students throughout the generations.
• We see ourselves in the long legacy of those who have come before...and wonder about those who will come next.
• Individual images are updatable into the future.

Project #3A: State Prep to BHS

Overview:

• Foundation of school and connection to CU and our newly formed State of Colorado

Project Description: SCHOOL HISTORY

• Focus on the need for education in Colorado and the early role State Prep played in preparing frontier children for higher education.
• Include transition from State Prep to Boulder High School. Include early images and any available objects from the period.’
• Show different buildings that called themselves “Boulder High” over the years to permit viewers to see the history of the buildings and spaces.

Project #3B: Growing Up Together

Overview:

• A frontier town is born, it needs an education
• Arapaho and Cheyenne, our complex past
• Connecting past to present over the years

Project Description: Community & SCHOOL HISTORY

• Present the close relationship between Boulder High School and the development of Boulder. Each inform and steer each other.
• Highlight key moments of history in Boulder and connect them to the activities and relevant aspects of Boulder High School at that same time.

Project #4a & #4B: Showtime! & Shows of the Past

Overview:

• Showtime! -- Current year/past year large poster of annual production
• Shows of the Past -- Past five years production posters

Project #5: Juniors to seniors case

Overview:

• Possible annual project where Juniors create a visual “time capsule” case as a parting display for outgoing seniors

Project Description: Juniors to seniors case

• To permit the entry area to include immediately contemporary elements, a program can be developed. One suggestion is a possible new annual tradition. Such a tradition could allow rising seniors to create a visual memory “time capsule” that honors the outgoing seniors. This would change annually and remain on display until the following year.
• Another approach is seniors create a “20 things” display. Students can submit objects, images or key memories for class voting selection that best represent the spirit of their class. Perhaps this occurs in the new calendar year and is installed in the winter. It remains on display until the following year and is then removed and preserved to be handed over at an alumni event, perhaps the 10-year reunion to that senior class.

Project #6A/B/C/D: History to today

Overview:

• Arts: Objects, images, awards connecting arts at BHS over time
• Academics: Objects, images, awards connecting academics at BHS over time
• Athletics: Objects, images, awards connecting athletics at BHS over time
• Activated: Objects, images, awards connecting student activism and engagement at BHS over time

Project Description: History to today

• Four areas/cases in the lobby focus on four aspects of life at Boulder High School.
  • Arts
  • Academics
  • Athletics
  • Activated
• Each include a primary graphic and short narrative panel. Object can be either interpreted or stand alone.
• Images provide greater context.

Project #7a & #7B: BHS Through the Years

Overview:

• BHS Through the Years - Visual celebration over the years organized by topical focus (rather than by chronology)

Project Description: Organization of history

• Timeline displays can be problematic if the desire is to add to them over time. Blank walls are not preferred but future expansion requires additional space (or removal of some of the current displays). Alternatives are to organize the wall areas by topic and include chronology or un-ordered dates that celebrate key moments.
• The cases in the lobby are intended to carry the deeper history which may allow for a timeline to be avoided in this long hall way.
• Panels and graphics need to be large with minimum text and written content. This is a transition space, not an area for hanging out and reading. Large images serve almost as murals.
• Outside of school hours, this area serves as a transition to the gymnasium for either sports or parent/teacher meetings and other gathering activities. Thought should be given to how this space is best used for the varying audiences who will transition through the space.
• Further discussion and exploration are needed to program the purpose and approach for the hallway in a way that is compatible.