Business park getting a name, an identity

As office and business parks go, northern Colorado Springs has InterQuest, a name developers said was intended to represent high-tech and high aspirations.

The Springs' east side has Patriot Park, home to a burgeoning collection of defense contractors.

Now, the Colorado Springs Airport business park has a name that its developers say will reflect the look and feel of the Pikes Peak region: Cresterra at Colorado Springs Airport.

Corporate Office Properties Trust, the Marylandbased real estate company that was named last year as the park's developer, selected Cresterra, with approval and input from airport officials, for the 272-acre park, southeast of Powers Boulevard and the Milton E. Proby Parkway, on the city's southeast side.

Terravista, Montevista and several other names were considered, but nothing stood out, said Carol Marty, senior marketing manager for Corporate Office Properties Trust. Meridian also was considered, but the Meridian International Business Center is a prominent venue in southeast Denver.

Cresterra was chosen because it fits the surrounding land, Marty said. "Crest" is meant to reflect mountain peaks, while "terra" speaks to sprawling prairie grasses surrounding the airport, she said.

Aviation Director Mark Earle said the idea was to give the business park a sense of place by use of a historical or geographical theme, and Cresterra was appropriate because of the mountain views businesses will have.

Another plus: Internet searches revealed the name wasn't in use for office parks, Marty said.

Corporate Office Properties Trust - which is developing Patriot Park and constructing buildings in InterQuest - has registered Cresterra with the Colorado secretary of state, which Marty says gives the developer exclusive rights to use the name in the state for office and business parks.

But the airport park won't be the only Cresterra. A southern Illinois businessman operates Cresterra LLC, a company that manages more than 5,000 acres of farmland.

"Unless they're acquiring farmland, in addition to the industrial park type of investment and office buildings, I won't be concerned," said owner and general manager Rick Ruppel.

But when it comes to an office park, does a name really matter?

Office or industrial users probably won't care when they're making financial decisions on where to locate, Marty said. But a name gives the park an identity.

"It makes it easier for us to market it," she said. "It gives it a personality and differentiates it from other competing products or parks in the area."

The airport business park is envisioned as a home to 3.5 million square feet of commercial space, a 300-room hotel on a separate 25 acres and a 226-acre golf course.

So far, defense contractors Northrop Grumman Corp. and Aerospace Corp. have constructed buildings in the park.

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CONTACT THE WRITER: 636-0228 or rich.laden@gazette.com