St. John Properties Breaks Ground at Simms Technology Park in Broomfield, Colorado

Three buildings containing 110,000 square feet of single-story office and flex/R&D space are under construction in initial phase of $125 million mixed-use community, located near N Simms Street and W 112th Avenue

Members of St. John Properties and Broomfield City and County Mayor participating in the recent Simms Technology Park groundbreaking event, from left to right: Sean Doordan, Executive Vice President of Acquisitions & Growth; Lawrence Maykrantz, President & CEO; Mayor Guyleen Castriotta, Broomfield City & County; Brandon Jenkins, Regional Partner; Edward St. John, Founder & Chairman; Allen Rutherford, Director of Construction.
Members of St. John Properties and Broomfield City and County Mayor participating in the recent Simms Technology Park groundbreaking event, from left to right: Sean Doordan, Executive Vice President of Acquisitions & Growth; Lawrence Maykrantz, President & CEO; Mayor Guyleen Castriotta, Broomfield City & County; Brandon Jenkins, Regional Partner; Edward St. John, Founder & Chairman; Allen Rutherford, Director of Construction.

GOLDEN, COSt. John Properties, Inc. has initiated construction at Simms Technology Park, an 81-acre mixed-use business community in Broomfield, Colorado. Upon completion the project will support nearly 600,000 square feet of single-story and multi-story office and flex/R&D space, in addition to complementary retail amenities. The full-service commercial real estate development and management company, recently held a ceremony breaking ground on the first phase of the project which includes one single-story office building comprising 41,000 square feet of space and two flex/R&D buildings combining for nearly 70,000 square feet of space. All three buildings, comprising just over 110,000 square feet of space, will be designed for LEED certification and are expected to deliver next summer.

Last summer, The Broomfield City Council granted approval for St. John Properties to begin development activities on Simms Technology Park, a $125 million project situated at the intersection of N Simms Street and W 112th Avenue in Broomfield County, approximately 20 miles northwest of Denver. Over the past six months St. John Properties, has proceeded with site grading and prepping infrastructure activities at the new business community. The company acquired the parcel from Brocade Communications Systems, LLC in 2020. In total St. John Properties currently owns and manages more than 1.5 million square feet of commercial space across four business communities in Colorado since first opening its Colorado regional office in 1987.

“Simms Technology Park is perfectly designed and positioned to address the emerging real estate needs of a wide range of companies exploring the suburban Denver area,” stated Brandon Jenkins, St. John Properties’ Regional Partner for Colorado. “The long-term philosophy of St. John Properties, and what differentiates the company from its peers, is to construct product on a speculative basis so we can respond quickly and provide immediate solutions to varied space requirements. We’re extremely grateful for the partnership and support from Broomfield City and County officials who have recognized that Simms Technology Park will become a significant job generator, a place for businesses to grow and prosper, and a long-term contributor to the local tax base.”

In addition to constructing the initial three buildings, St. John Properties is currently marketing the sale or ground lease of four pad sites ranging from 1.5 acres to 2 acres that can support numerous uses including restaurants, , convenient stores/gas stations, and fast food. The final development plan is expected to consist of 14 buildings and support more than 2,000 jobs.

“Our research indicates a significant pent-up demand for different categories requiring free-standing buildings, particularly retail establishments with drive-through lanes,” added Jenkins. “In addition to the captured audience provided by employees within Simms Technology Park, users will have immediate access to the Boulder and Denver markets along the U.S. 36 northwest ‘creative corridor’ of the Denver metropolitan area.”

“Broomfield is home to a thriving community of innovative companies who are spearheading the development of cutting-edge ideas, services, and products for customers globally. We take great pride in our prominent bioscience, information technology and advanced manufacturing enterprises, and eagerly anticipate the arrival of numerous others, particularly at locations such as Simms Technology Park,” stated Guyleen Castriotta, Mayor of the City and County of Broomfield. “This hub for innovation and technology is beginning its journey with the groundbreaking ceremony for several buildings. Eventually, the campus will include more than eighteen structures, likely becoming the future headquarters for 30-50 firms dedicated to research, design, prototyping, testing and the global delivery of products and services.”

Included in the first phase of this development, St. John Properties will complete significant upgrades to W 112th Avenue and N. Simms Street including the addition of sidewalks, lighting, supplemental landscaping, upgraded turn lanes, and road lane expansions. Two new public roads, Doppler Drive and Brocade Parkway, will also be constructed and bisect the site. Brocade Parkway was also renamed to Quantum Parkway as part of the plan. Development plans also include nearly one mile of new 10-foot-wide public recreational trails along Walnut Creek.

Additional St. John Properties projects in Colorado include, Corporate Center, a fourteen-building 600,000 square foot business community in Golden; Sixth Avenue Place, a 145,000 square foot project in Golden; and Walnut Creek Business Park, which contains more than 200,000 square feet of space in the city of Westminster. These three business communities are cumulatively 96 percent leased, feature more than 150 tenants and support more than 5,300 jobs.

According to data from the Broomfield Economic Vitality Division, Broomfield is rated as one of the top 25 best places to live in the United States and the fastest growing community in Colorado. Population in Boomfield’s city and county grew by more than 32 percent during the recent 10-year census period, and nearly 20,000 additional people are expected to be added to the population by 2030. The median age of all residents is 38.4 with a median household income exceeding $135,000. Major employers include CenturyLink, Oracle America, SCL Health Care, Ball Corporation and Vail Resorts. A number of companies engaged in high technology and research and development have relocated to the region in recent years.

Founded in 1971, St. John Properties, Inc. is one of the nation’s largest and most successful privately held commercial real estate firms. The company is distinguished by its commitment to customer service, achievements in green building, and top-rated workplace culture. Throughout St. John Properties’ 52-year history, the company has developed more than 23 million square feet of flex/R&D, office, retail, and warehouse space, and has investments in over 3,000 residential units. The company proudly serves more than 2,500 clients in Colorado, Florida, Louisiana, Maryland, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, Utah, and Wisconsin. For more information about the company, visit www.sjpi.com.