Open for Business
Attendees at the recent Boom Days celebration in Leadville, Colo., received a first glimpse of the newly remodeled lobby of a historic bank building that is now doing double duty – helping address the company’s Colorado housing challenges and serving as a multi-use visitor/information center.
The lobby of the old American National Bank Building was renovated to serve as a visitor/information center for both Climax Molybdenum and the Lake County tourism office. The remodel consisted of asbestos abatement, carpet and linoleum tile removal, kitchen demolition, refinishing of existing hardwood floors, updated lighting, new doors and more. Design of the space began in March, construction started in May, and the work was completed in July.
The property, which was purchased by the company in 2022, was built in 1891 by one of the community’s most prominent citizens as a headquarters for his bank. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the building was vacant for years before being converted into a 15-unit apartment complex in about 2000. In 2022, the recently acquired apartments were offered to new workers for up to 120 days rent-free while they transition to more permanent housing.
Boom Days, meanwhile, is an annual celebration of the rich mining history of Leadville, which continues at the nearby Climax mine. Aside from competitions involving old-style techniques such as pounding spikes with hand-held sledgehammers, the weekend festivities included old-West re-enactments, burro races, a parade and more than 100 food and craft booths. Climax Molybdenum was the premier sponsor of the event.
In the photos above (clockwise from top left) Emily Niggeler, Manager-Colorado Operations and Crisis Response Communications, and her son, Howard, speak to a visitor in the renovated lobby; the exterior of the building ties Climax to the building’s historic significance; Dominick Patti, Senior Supervisor-Henderson, took third place in the team jackleg drilling competition; Climax employees and family members hand out candy and stress balls along the parade route; the shirts worn by employees at the parade aim to reach a next generation of employees.