Cool Classrooms, Bright Futures: MTech Mechanical Brings Air Conditioning to Queen Palmer Elementary

Established in 1948, Queen Palmer Elementary School is a Title I school serving over 200 K-5 students. It was one of the only remaining schools in the district without air conditioning before MTech Mechanical was selected as the prime contractor to install air conditioning during Summer 2024, making a big impact on the quality of life for students and staff.

Queen Palmer has been dedicated to its students and has been ranked second in CMAS (Colorado Mathematics, English Language Arts, Science, and Social Studies Assessments) for elementary schools in Colorado. “We are blessed… with 88-90% of students on free & reduced lunch, we still have high expectations and no excuses for our students to do their best,” said Christina Butcher, Queen Palmer Elementary School Principal.

Only a few years ago the future of Queen Palmer was uncertain, but after further consideration, District 11 invested in upgrading classroom spaces, installing turf on the playground, painting, and adding air conditioning. Being a late start school, air conditioning will provide immediate comfort, resulting in a more productive learning environment.

“We are excited to not only be the contractor on this project, but also a community partner, knowing the great impact it will have on the students and community. For this summer project, we are installing condensers on the roof and replacing boiler coils that were heating only previously. Now they will have both heating and cooling year-round,” said Tyler Corey, MTech Project Manager.

Dedication to the students and learning is what has kept the school going. “When students and staff have a productive learning environment it will increase student outcomes as well as student academic performance,” said Butcher. “I am excited to get the school year going… I couldn’t ask for a better staff and kids.”

This story was also covered by local media in Colorado Springs. You can check out the coverage here: https://bit.ly/QueenPalmerGazette & https://bit.ly/queenpalmer