GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. — More than 10 months after watching their news station turn to ashes, KREX-TV employees turned the soil on their new building Wednesday morning.

The original KREX building, constructed in 1951 and located at 345 Hillcrest Ave., burned down on Jan. 20. The new $2.5 million structure will be located at the same address.

The new building will be about 3,000 square feet smaller than the original building, which had two stories and numerous additions, said KREX General Manager Ron Tillery. The new building will be more functional and safer, he said.

“We have an excellent fire suppression system,” Tillery said.

Keira Bresnahan, KREX news director, said the news team has remained tight since the fire. They lost their building and have broadcast out of a classroom at Western Colorado Community College since March. But if there’s an upside to the fire,

Bresnahan said, it’s that the news team got new digital film cameras when most of their old tape-equipped cameras were destroyed in the fire.

“This is some of the greatest digital technology out there,” Bresnahan said. “Some of our equipment you’ll find in the top 50 markets.”

The equipment lost in the fire was worth “well north of $2.5 million,” Tillery said.

The new KREX building is slated for completion in six months.

Reach Emily Anderson at eanderson@gjfreepress.com.