Charles Shaw and his wife Lisa bought an abandoned school in Durango, Colorado in 1996. The building was 45,000 square feet,
but it was in poor shape, although the walls were of solid brick. However, all Charles saw was an opportunity to fulfill his lifelong dream.
This idea came to Charles Shaw almost two decades ago. Together with his wife, Lisa, Shaw purchased an abandoned and dilapidated high school in Durango, Colorado.
Despite the building’s age and disrepair, Shaw still had to spend a lot of money to qualify to purchase the school.
Charles told Respectful Revolution that he was inspired by the giant building, with over 45,000 square feet of space and massive brick walls.
He wanted to turn the building into a multifunctional space for the local community. It was his old dream, which was close to becoming a reality.
Charles originally envisioned the place as an arts hub where creatives could work on their projects and passions.
Within a few months of use, it became clear that the current condition of the building was unsatisfactory.
Electricity alone cost Charles $5,000, which he paid out of his own pocket. Despite his desire to keep
the building, the monthly utility bill was sky-high. It took a lot of resources to run this old high school.
Instead of giving up on his dream, Charles decided to get creative. He installed LED lighting throughout the building.
He also began to regulate the ventilation system using motion sensors. This ensured that the system only started when there were people in the rooms.
In addition, Charles installed solar panels to power the entire building. As a result, Charles was able to
reduce his monthly utility bill to less than $400. These creative solutions helped make his dream come true.
Charles currently lives in a renovated school with his wife and young child. It is also home to several other artists and non-profit organizations.
The place was named ‘Smiley Building’ (‘Building Smiley’) and is a landmark of the small town of Durango.
After seeing the photos of this amazing building, everyone will want to visit this amazing place.