Elevate Quantum groundbreaking ceremony kicks off the quantum future for Colorado and Rocky Mountain West
Federal, state and local dignitaries join to celebrate the beginning of Quantum COmmons at Arvada, one of the Mountain West’s most important scientific facilities
Arvada, CO — Earlier this week, Colorado School of Mines and several key partners broke ground on Quantum COmmons at Arvada, a 70-acre site owned by Mines and dedicated to advancing quantum technology, marking the region's first major investment since Colorado became a designated Tech Hub by the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration (EDA).
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Colorado and all of the Elevate Quantum partners, and the nation is looking to us to accelerate growth of the quantum technology industry and economy,” said Dr. Paul C. Johnson, president of Mines. “Having already launched one of the nation's first quantum engineering graduate programs, Mines is excited to now take the lead on developing the Quantum COmmons at Arvada site and in the near-term delivering shared-use facilities critical to achieving the Elevate Quantum vision.”
When Quantum COmmons at Arvada comes online in 2026, it will have:
- 10,000 square foot fabrication lab/cleanroom building to support prototyping and low-volume manufacturing
- 17,000 square foot open-access quantum labs with a collaborative community design
- 70 acres available for open access facility expansion and co-location and growth of quantum startups and scale-ups
Elevate Quantum, a designated Tech Hub by the EDA, was awarded $40.5 million in federal funding. That funding activated $74 million in matching state support and $1 billion in private capital to help realize its ambitious plans to make the Mountain West — and partner Colorado School of Mines — the global leader in quantum innovation.
Quantum COmmons at Arvada is a key asset for the technology hub and half the $41 million in EDA funding will go toward critical equipment and capabilities to establish this site. It will be developed into a leading global technology park, providing open-access user facilities critical to accelerating the speed of progress in the quantum industry. These facilities will offer capabilities in solid state and AMO modalities, alongside fabrication services to accelerate the speed of iteration across the entire quantum industry. This will enable breakthroughs ranging from artificial intelligence, climate tech, and healthcare to sensing and well beyond.
"We aren't wasting any time and are rolling up our sleeves and getting to work, ensuring Colorado's leadership in quantum technology,” said Colorado Governor Jared Polis. “Quantum technology is our future, and in Colorado, we are building what we need to support the quantum revolution."
Also welcoming the start of construction was U.S. Deputy of Secretary Commerce Don Graves. "The Department of Commerce is focused on fostering the future of critical and emerging technologies like quantum and using innovative place-based economic strategies to spread its benefits to every corner of our country," he said. "The Elevate Quantum Tech Hub is on the cutting edge of that mission and will help write the next chapter of Colorado's economic prosperity."
Joining Johnson, Graves and Polis at the groundbreaking was U.S. Rep. Brittany Pettersen, and Boulder Mayor Aaron Brockett.
Home to one of the nation’s first quantum engineering graduate programs, Mines offers hands-on, interdisciplinary programs to help address critical workforce needs and prepare students to shape the quantum-powered future. Quantum COmmons at Arvada will give students an opportunity to engage in experiential learning, such as internships with start-ups and working on senior design projects.
About Mines
Colorado School of Mines is a public R1 research university focused on applied science and engineering, producing the talent, knowledge and innovations to serve industry and benefit society – all to create a more prosperous future.
