New Art Studio at School for Deaf and Blind Students Lifts Spirits in Colorado

Meaningful projects are the result of great partnerships, a fact illustrated in the ongoing joint venture between Alameda, California-based architecture and design firm, MBH Architects, and non-profit children’s charity Good Tidings Foundation. The two civic-minded organizations recently partnered to give back to the Colorado Springs community through their new project, LeRoy Neiman Art Studio at Colorado School of the Deaf and Blind—their 17th joint venture.  

Named after the American artist renowned for his colorful and energetic paintings, MBH was scoped with the interior design of the new 1,000-square-foot art studio with the goal of assisting deaf and blind students explore their art skills in a creative, visually uplifting environment. The unique classroom will provide art education for students ranging from elementary to high school age, facilitating classes on painting, drawing, ceramics and sculpture.  

Early design meetings held over Zoom with Good Tidings founder Larry Harper, Tiffany Stahl and McQella Adams of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Museum, Tara Zabor of the LeRoy Nieman and Janet Byrne Nieman Foundation, and art teacher Lauren Waldorf, who understood both the day-to-day uses of the studio and student needs, revealed that flexibility in the space was key. 

“[Lauren] wanted tables that could be stowed away. She wanted opportunities to rearrange the room depending on the activity,” recalled Tammy Ng, LEED AP BD˖C, project manager and associate at MBH Architects. “The tables might be cleared away so that there is space for a large art project on the floor one day, or for easels to be set up for a painting session on another day, or even for a gallery event where the student’s artwork can be displayed.” 

Winter Olympic Inspiration

Given its location in Colorado Springs—the home of the winter Olympics—and its close proximity to the U.S. Paralympic Museum, sporting motifs referencing the Winter Olympic games and skiing are found throughout. Learning to ski is an important activity for the students at the Colorado School for the Deaf and Blind, and in fact, the school has been collaborating with Foresight Ski Guides, another non-profit organization, to teach their blind students how to ski. Similarly, Neiman was the official artist of five Olympic Games, spanning from 1972 to 2010.  

Upon entering the art studio, students pass through a short hall where they place their belongings and find their aprons from the wall-mounted upcycled ski coat racks. As students prepare for their art class, three murals of Olympic skiers come into view—one large mural on the wall, and two others adhered to the doors of new storage cabinets.