Denver Public Schools (DPS) is exploring a unique partnership with a local church as it seeks to make use of Whatley Chapel, a deteriorating building acquired as part of the former Johnson & Wales University campus in 2021.
Under the proposed agreement, Denver Presbyterian Church would invest approximately $4.3 million to renovate the chapel, which would allow them to lease the space rent-free for a decade, with the option to renew for another ten years.
DPS officials believe this approach could revitalize the chapel, which is not well-suited for use as a school building, according to Andrew Huber, DPS’s executive director of enrollment and campus planning.
The chapel’s religious iconography was cited as a primary concern, leading the district to conclude that it should retain its function as a chapel rather than being converted into a traditional school space.
“This building is a chapel, and it can be nothing other than a chapel,” Huber emphasized during a meeting of the school board’s finance and audit committee this week.
DPS purchased the entire campus, including four buildings, to support the expansion of the popular Denver School of the Arts (DSA) middle and high school, allowing the high school to relocate to this new setting.
Currently, the chapel is underutilized, and the district sees this potential partnership as an opportunity to breathe new life into the space while occasionally allowing DSA to use it for special events.
Huber noted that the renovation of the chapel aligns with community interests, stating, “This represents our best shot at activating this space on behalf of the community and for DSA students.”
The Denver school board is slated to vote on this proposal later in the month.
Denver Presbyterian Church’s senior pastor, Ronnie Garcia, expressed enthusiasm about the potential of Whatley Chapel, highlighting how his congregation had an interest in acquiring the property since it was on the market in 2021.
The chapel, built in 1962, is renowned for its beautiful architecture, featuring 39 stained glass windows and the only carrillion—an instrument of tuned bells played via a keyboard—in Colorado since its construction in 1961.
Despite its visual appeal, the chapel requires significant renovations, including asbestos abatement and extensive upgrades to its structure and systems, which Garcia believes will enhance the building both for his congregation and the adjacent school district.
“We have lots of DPS kids in our congregation, so we’ve had a really warm relationship with DPS,” Garcia shared, emphasizing his community ties as a parent of DPS students.
This collaborative initiative is part of a broader plan for DPS to improve facilities and expand educational opportunities.
The primary goal of acquiring the former Johnson & Wales campus was to effectively separate middle school and high school students of DSA while increasing enrollment and promoting diversity within the student body.
Notably, DSA is distinct among Denver public schools as it requires students to audition for acceptance, resulting in a demographic that tends to be whiter and wealthier than the district average.
Since the acquisition, one of the buildings has undergone substantial renovations costing $22.5 million, making it suitable for K-12 educational standards. DSA students have already started to utilize this building, referred to as DSA South, this past school year.
Another building on the campus is currently being used in a limited capacity by students at DPS’ Emily Griffith Technical College, while the remaining structures, including Whatley Chapel, are not yet in use.
As Denver Presbyterian Church prepares for its potential new home, DPS is hopeful that the successful renovation of Whatley Chapel will lead to a mutually beneficial relationship that fosters community engagement and enhances educational experiences for students.
Melanie Asmar, the Chalkbeat Colorado bureau chief, reported on this story, highlighting the significance of the partnership and its potential to enrich the community.
Chalkbeat continues to cover educational changes in public schools, providing insights into how local decisions affect educational development.
image source from：https://denverite.com/2025/06/09/denver-public-schools-chapel/
