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<\/p>\nCharles Shaw and his wife Lisa bought an abandoned school in Durango, Colorado in 1996. The building was 45,000 square feet, <\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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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. <\/p>\n
Despite the building’s age and disrepair, Shaw still had to spend a lot of money to qualify to purchase the school.<\/p>\n
Charles told Respectful Revolution that he was inspired by the giant building, with over 45,000 square feet of space and massive brick walls. <\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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Charles originally envisioned the place as an arts hub where creatives could work on their projects and passions. <\/p>\n
Within a few months of use, it became clear that the current condition of the building was unsatisfactory.<\/p>\n
Electricity alone cost Charles $5,000, which he paid out of his own pocket. Despite his desire to keep <\/p>\n
the building, the monthly utility bill was sky-high. It took a lot of resources to run this old high school.<\/p>\n
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Instead of giving up on his dream, Charles decided to get creative. He installed LED lighting throughout the building. <\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
In addition, Charles installed solar panels to power the entire building. As a result, Charles was able to <\/p>\n
reduce his monthly utility bill to less than $400. These creative solutions helped make his dream come true.<\/p>\n
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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.<\/p>\n
The place was named \u2018Smiley Building\u2019 (\u2018Building Smiley\u2019) and is a landmark of the small town of Durango. <\/p>\n