Outdoor programs building to feature first indoor climbing wall in area
Lake County community members such as (from left) Wes Duran, Maryellen Thoren, Mike Simon, Jack Saunders, Bud Elliott, John Wells and Bob Hartzel are just part of the campaign cabinet supporting fundraising for the Climax Molybdenum Leadership Center at Colorado Mountain Colleges Timberline Campus. Photo Steve Sunday
LEADVILLE – The new Climax Molybdenum Leadership Center under construction at Colorado Mountain College’s Timberline Campus in Leadville will offer two community meeting rooms as well as scheduled access to a new gymnasium and the first indoor climbing wall in the area.
“Colorado Mountain College is committed to being our community’s first choice in learning and partnerships,” said Mike Simon, CEO at the Timberline Campus and a college vice president. “And we see this facility as allowing us to meet a number of community needs and to increase the county’s capacity economically and educationally.”
The $2.3 million, 14,900-square-foot building expected to be completed by summer will serve as the home for the college’s popular outdoor recreational leadership program and the recently reintroduced outdoor education program, as well as other academic and personal-enrichment classes.
Community can help to raise funds for building
In November the CMC Foundation kicked off a community campaign with the goal of raising $150,000 in local contributions by the building’s anticipated July 2010 grand opening. A group of community leaders will serve on a cabinet directing the fundraising campaign. Sponsorship and donor naming opportunities are available, ranging from $100,000 for the gymnasium, to $20,000 for an outdoor ropes course, to $100 each for inscribed paver bricks.
Construction of the building also is supported through a $1 million gift from Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Foundation, which was announced in the spring. The Timberline student government also donated $20,000 from student fees to help equip the workout room. Additionally, several campaign cabinet members kicked off the community fundraising effort with a total of $10,000 in lead gifts.
Adhering to ongoing sustainability efforts across the college district, the building will include energy-efficient boilers and light fixtures, motion-sensor lighting, water-saving fixtures and low VOC (volatile organic compounds) paints and carpets. The design-build team Diesslin Structures Inc. of Salida began construction on the project in May.
The Climax Molybdenum Leadership Center will feature one large and one smaller classroom that can be reserved as community meeting rooms or additional conference meeting space, supporting the Leadville community’s ability to grow their conference business. A gymnasium with a full-sized basketball/volleyball court as well as a 25-foot climbing wall will be available to the public at scheduled times.
