CREJ

72 / BUILDING DIALOGUE / September 2019 so we want to make sure we are doing our part to thank the Colorado Springs community for the tremendous honor to build it. I am both bewildered at and grateful for how much this project has positively impacted everyone involved; it is truly a testament to the Olympic movement and what the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum will do for Colorado Springs once it is completed. In addition to the excitement and pride this building has already evoked, there has been a tangible economic impact during construction. As of now, approximately 70 percent of the labor and suppliers have been local, which has contributed approximately $35 million to $40 million to the local economy and more than 170,000 hours have been worked by local men and women. When I bring my wife, two daughters, and other friends and family to tour the museum, I will be as proud as any athlete who puts in years of training for her performance on the world’s stage. I know future visitors will be captivat- ed by the exhibits and stories, just as we are all captivated every time the summer and winter Olympics and Paralym- pics take place. This is truly a world-class, Olympian proj- ect, right here in Colorado. \\ / Achieving Construction Excellence with an Athlete’s Mindset / OPENING ART: Building up high – at altitude and in design. TOP: The exterior is made up of 10,000 uniquely shaped aluminium panels. LEFT: It took more than a year to design, mock up and test the exterior. RIGHT: John McCorkle, construction manager, U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Musuem. .