The Coal Mine

Contemporary abstractions of mining forms and images are articulated to capture the “spirit of place” that Erie, Colorado once held. Upon moving through the main entry tower, or tipple tower, one begins to “feel” the sense of the mine. Heavy timber columns and glue-laminated beams support the tongue-in-groove wood roof deck along the circulation spine. This main concourse takes on a contemporary vision of a trestle bridge. The wood brings warmth and a human scale for the students while reflecting the local mining history and culture of the region.