The damages done to Columbine High School during the shootings of April 20, 1999 were quite extensive, especially considering how few people it took to do it. A lot of work had to be done to repair the damages done to Columbine High School on April 20, 1999. With massive effort on the parts of many people, they were able to successfully renovate the building so that it could be re-opened that same fall for the return of the Columbine students. There were parts of the school that weren't completed till later but classes were able to resume on time.

The library was sealed off initially and later completely removed, leaving an open space above the cafeteria still located below. The cafeteria was remodeled and the area above it was transformed into a bright atrium filled with forest art. Several other areas of the school were redone as well - hallways, classrooms... a lot of the school looked completely different when students returned to campus -- which was the intention.

A temporary library was established until the new one could be built. In 2000, the HOPE Columbine Library broke ground and was built on the grassy hill where Rachel Scott died. There was never a final dollar amount put on the finished repairs but Superintendent Jane Hammond said back in May 1999 it could cost roughly $50 million.