Community Center Update

On the west end of town near the Stock Bridge Center sits a building that will be externally complete by February according to Rick Gliniecki who is a project manager for Fox Construction. Interior finishes will continue through winter. When the new Steamboat Springs Community Center is complete it will be a $3.6 million facility which can hold up to 383 people. The old community center once sat near the Bud Werner memorial library on 13th street, but was demolished to make room for the library expansion.

A heavy reliance on recycled materials is part of the LEED certification process. LEED is a rating system developed by the U.S. Green Building Council as a voluntary program to define and measure “green,” or environmentally friendly, buildings. The buildings cost has been increased by 8-20% because of its use of green building materials, but did not slow the building process or make it more difficult. The cost will be off-set in the running of the building since it may prove to be more energy efficient and much better for the environment by using recycled materials and purchasing wood from suppliers who practice good forest management. Upon completion, the Routt County Council on aging will move into the building. The community center will eventually be available to rent for weddings and other events.

To read the full story go to www.steamboatpilot.com and look for Brandon Gee's article entitled Builders aim for February.