Air Academy Federal Credit Union opens new $10 million headquarters

Air Academy Federal Credit Union has realized a 10-year growth plan with a new headquarters in Briargate designed to meet the credit union’s needs for another three decades.

The $10 million project more than doubles Air Academy’s office space to 52,000 square feet spread over four stories, although the credit union may lease out the top floor for a few years, said Glenn Strebe, Air Academy’s chief executive. The Colorado Springs area’s second-largest credit union has more than doubled to $473 million in assets over the past seven years and now employs 174 to serve more than 45,000 members at 13 branches.

“In 1999, the board identified a need for a facilities plan and we did a detailed study in 2001 that anticipated the need for a new headquarters because we thought that we would grow to assets of more than $400 million by 2009 or 2010. We met that goal this year,” Strebe said during a ribbon-cutting ceremony Tuesday. “I believe we did it right. We can add another building to the side and the property includes 13 acres. It will meet our needs for the next 30 years.”

Air Academy will keep its former headquarters at 1355 Kelly Johnson Blvd. as a branch until it can sell the 29-year-old building. The new building at 9810 N. Union Blvd. was designed by The Larson Group Architects and built by Nunn Construction Inc.

The credit union, started in 1955 to serve cadets and staff at the Air Force Academy, now mostly serves active and retired military personnel, staff and students from 10 area school districts and about 100 education groups and area businesses.

Open house
What: Grand opening celebration and open house
When: 10 a.m.-noon Saturday Oct. 10.
Where: 9810 N. Union Blvd.