WICHITA, Kan. (KAKE) - Century II has long been the most recognizable landmark in the Wichita skyline. City leaders have spent years debating whether to tear it down, but Thursday was a big win for people who are fighting to keep it standing.

"We're celebrating the new roof on Century II. It's gorgeous. It's bright, it's blue, and we're thrilled," said Celeste Racette with Save Century II.

Watching this timelapse from our drone, it's obvious the $5 million project was no easy task. You can see six months of work and more than 23,000 working hours from start to finish in just a matter of seconds as the crew of about 40 workers buttoned up the last panel. 

"The importance of getting the roof done, it shows that the city is going to take care of this wonderful, iconic building," said Racette.

One of the people who was at the celebration knows a thing or two about theaters, and he hopes the new roof is only the beginning.

"I've done hundreds of millions of dollars in new theaters and so forth. But this, by far, is the most iconic building in the city of Wichita. And to tear it down for financial reasons, this incredible building that was built in the 60s, would be a sin," said movie theater mogul Bill Warren.

Warren has made it his personal mission to help save Century II for free. He says he and his team of experts studied the building under a microscope, and he's certain that every reason why some say it needs to be torn down, like infrastructure issues and the theaters being too small to attract bigger shows, is fixable.

"My hope is that they keep this building and that they refresh it. And I guarantee it, we can refresh it and improve it and make a nicer building than any new building they could ever think of, for 20 cents on the dollar," said Warren.

Warren says he's confident he can help solve any problems the city runs into while fixing up the old building, and says he'll stay just a phone call away.