Spanish Peaks Library

Walsenburg, Colorado is a historic southern Colorado community that is proud of their heritage and small town character. So when in 2004 the Walsenburg School District, which owned the building that now houses the Spanish Peaks Library, announced that they would tear it down, the community banded together to renovate this historic treasure, funding the project through a $1.75 million bond issue which will take 20 years for them to pay back.

The team also sought to modernize the energy performance of the building, making it more sustainable and comfortable. The building is heated and cooled by a geothermal system, and the floor is made of recycled rubber. The furniture also is recycled.

The Spanish Peaks Library won a Stephen H. Hart Award, which recognizes four outstanding projects and individuals that have impacted archaeology and historic preservation in Colorado.