Aurora to get a new federal facility

A 350,000-square-foot office will be built for the Aerospace Data Facility Colorado to handle intelligence work.

By Margaret Jackson, The Denver Post

A Virginia company is developing a 350,000-square-foot office building on 64 acres in Aurora for the federal government.

The Peterson Cos. is expected to break ground in March on Project Keystone, which will be occupied by the Aerospace Data Facility Colorado, the largest tenant at Buckley Air Force Base.

"We're out of space at our facility," said Sharlene Fairbanks-Kyte, public- affairs officer for the agency. "Project Keystone is to augment ADF Colorado."

The site within Gateway Park is bounded by North Walden Street, East 40th Avenue and North Salida Street.

The Peterson Cos. purchased the ground from the Pauls Corp. Under an agreement reached in April, Peterson will lease the building to the Office of Director of National Intelligence. The National Reconnaissance Office will act as the executive agent for the project, which will be occupied by ADF Colorado.

Fairbanks-Kyte declined to disclose how many employees will occupy the building or the type of work that will be performed there.

"The intelligence community just doesn't say anything," she said.

When the federal government is involved, it's not uncommon to have sketchy details about a project, Aurora Mayor Ed Tauer said. But even private-sector companies working on federal contracts have been known to be secretive.

"I've done groundbreakings where I've said, 'Folks, I have absolutely no idea what you're doing here, but I'm glad you're doing it in the city of Aurora,' " Tauer said. "At a time when the whole economy is struggling, this looks to be additional jobs, and that's always a great thing for every community, and we think it's great for the whole region."

The fastest-growing Air Force base in the nation, Buckley has an economic impact on the region of more than $1 billion a year, making Aurora a major driver in the state's aerospace industry, the Aurora Economic Development Council's website says. The industry employs about 18,000 people in Aurora.

Raytheon Co. is the city's largest private employer, with more than 2,600 workers. Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin and the Boeing Co. also have major operations in Aurora.