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Eye to the future

Durango Herald getting first building makeover since 1979

The Durango Herald’s building at 1275 Main Ave. is undergoing its most extensive renovation since 1979.

The downstairs, once home to the printing press, is being thoroughly remade. Crews are knocking down walls to create open areas, with the goal of providing a modern, Silicon Valley-style work space.

“It’s all about keeping employees inspired at work,” said Doug Bennett, chief executive officer of Ballantine Communications Inc., parent company of The Durango Herald.

The space – known as the Digital Innovation Lab – will feature bean bag chairs, couches, a foosball table and a pingpong table. Work spaces will have areas to plug in laptops and other electronic devices.

Bennett said he initiated the renovation, with the blessing of the company’s board, to attract new employees with digital skills.

“How are we going to pursue and keep some of the talent we need for the future, especially as it relates to digital?” he said.

A multipurpose room capable of seating 150 people will anchor the area, joined by two smaller conference rooms. A “work bar” is also planned.

The rear dock that faces west toward Camino del Rio is being remade into a patio with tables and chairs. A garage door-style door with large windows will be able to be rolled up during pleasant weather.

The renovations are designed to facilitate impromptu meetings and discussion among employees, Bennett said.

The downstairs has been mostly empty or used for storage since the Herald removed its printing press in 2001. Since then, the newspaper has been printed in Cortez.

An open house will be held after construction is completed, expected in late October.

The Durango regional office of Albuquerque-based Jaynes Corp. is serving as the general contractor. RMBA Architects of Durango designed the new lab. The project’s cost was not disclosed.

The building dates to 1965. A major renovation expanded the front of the building in 1979.

The Herald’s current renovation is part of a run of business construction in Durango.

SoundTraxx, a local company that makes model railroad sound technologies, broke ground last week on a new 18,901-square-foot headquarters at 141 Burnett Drive, in the Durango Tech Center.

In May, Mercury opened a $40 million, 80,000-square-foot headquarters called Mercury Village in south Durango.

“There seems to be a lot of commercial investment on the part of our major employers,” said Roger Zalneraitis, executive director of the La Plata County Economic Development Alliance.

The Alliance tracks commercial transactions. Through July, there were commercial transactions totaling $12 million, compared to $8 million for the same period in 2013.

cslothower@durangoherald.com



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