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David Skaggs Research Center
325 Broadway
Boulder, CO 80303
The David Skaggs Research Center (DSRC) is a 405,000 square foot building located on the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) campus. Situated on the site of the old Kohler Ranch, the campus and building sit at the foot of the flatirons geological formations with Green Mountain and Bear Peak rising in the background.
Maintenance Issues
To report a building maintenance issue, please call (888) 999-4777 or email rmrcallcenter@gsa.gov.
Accessing the DOC Campus
The DOC Campus is open to the public from 6:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, except federal holidays. Visitors should enter the campus at Rayleigh Road and proceed to the visitor center. After presenting a valid photo ID, they will receive a visitors badge and be directed to the Skaggs building. Detailed driving directions to NOAA Boulder are available . Driving directions from Denver International Airport are provided in the PDF file below.
Building Tenants
Building tenants include the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's(NOAA) Earth System Research Laboratory, the National Geophysical Data Center, the Space Environment Center, and the National Weather Service Forecast Office.
Environmental Features
The Skaggs building is an outstanding example of sustainable design. Some of the environmental features of the building include:
- Green building
- Green roof
- Energy conservation
To learn more about GSA’s commitment to incorporate principles of sustainable design and energy efficiency into all of our building projects, please visit GSA’s Sustainable Design Program.
Architecture
Some of the key architectural characteristics of the Center include:
- Six hundred and ninety eight individual offices and 98 laboratories.
- Four floors including three floors above ground, which rise to 49 feet, and a garden level.
- Roofing that was designed as a working surface and is able to withstand winds as high as 150 mph.
- Four Dobson Domes, located on the roof, used for monitoring and research of the atmosphere.
- Pre-cast panels that match the stone on the building are located throughout the building exterior (the stone is from a local quarry near Lyons, Colorado).
Art/Science
The DSRC lobby hosts several artworks that illustrate scientific research. These pieces include:
- A satellite model
- Sea of Clouds
- Intrusion
- Breaking Waves
Building Tours
Public tours of the DSRC are available at 1:00 p.m. every Tuesday. Tours last approximately one hour and include stops at several research divisions and the National Weather Service Forecast Office. To attend a tour, please call (303) 497-4091. Also, remember to bring a photo ID at the time of the tour.
History
The David Skaggs Research Center was designed and constructed between 1996 and 1998. The building was named for former U.S. Congressman David Skaggs. During his twelve year term in the U.S. House of Representatives, Skaggs represented the 2nd Congressional District of Colorado. Skaggs’ continuous commitment to Colorado and its communities was integral in the successful completion of the center.
Last Reviewed 12/3/2008