Home > David Skaggs Research Center > DSRC Timeline
  • November 1987: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in Boulder, Colorado, submits a request to the General Services Administration (GSA) in Denver to consolidate NOAA office, laboratory, and research facilities from obsolete and inadequate leased space in multiple locations into one principal site at the Boulder Department of Commerce (DOC) campus, currently occupied by another DOC agency, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).
  • June 22, 1989: The U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Public Works and Transportation passes a resolution directing GSA to construct a Federal building for NOAA at the DOC campus.
  • November 3, 1989: Public Law 101-136 appropriates funds to GSA for the project, and authorizes the Department of Commerce to transfer land at the 325 Broadway site to GSA for the building.
  • June 1990: GSA prepares an Environmental Assessment for the proposed project resulting in a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) in August 1990.
  • March 1993: GSA decides to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement addressing community concerns about the proposed NOAA building, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Master Site Development Plan, the Native American medicine wheel issue, and the potential impacts to wildlife from development at the DOC site.
  • December 1993: City of Boulder and NIST signs a Memorandum of Agreement restricting development of the DOC campus in Boulder and granting the City an irrevocable easement of approximately 50 percent of the DOC site.
  • October 1994-1996: Consultations with Federally-recognized, sovereign Native American Tribal Governments having historical ties to the Colorado Front Range area result in a Memorandum of Agreement to protect portions of the DOC site and provide a tribal monitor on-site during excavation.
  • December 14, 1995: Public Open House Regarding the draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on GSA/NIST Proposed Actions. (Two sessions held; 1:30- 5pm, and 7-8:30pm.)
  • January 12, 1996: Public Meeting (7:00 pm) regarding the GSA/NIST proposed actions.
  • March 1996: Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) released. Several hundred copies are printed and distributed to neighbors, libraries, government officials, tribal representatives, and other interested parties.
  • May 3, 1996: Final EIS released and several hundred copies distributed.
  • June 14, 1996: GSA issues Record of Decision based on findings in the May 1996 final Environmental Impact Statement for the NOAA project, which also includes the NIST construction program and Master Site Plan proposed for the DOC campus.
  • August 8, 1996: Bid Package distributed to five, pre-qualified, General Contractors.
  • September 12, 1996: Construction bid openings at GSA offices in the Denver Federal Center.
  • September 24, 1996: Construction contract awarded to Hensel Phelps Construction Company of Greeley, Colorado.
  • October 18, 1996: Ground Breaking Ceremony held at the building site.
  • November 18, 1996: Start of construction.
  • January 3, 1997: First concrete poured, for the foundation of the southern part of the building, Block D.
  • October, 1998: Congress passed legislation naming the building the David Skaggs Research Center in honor of Congressman David Skaggs of Boulder.
  • February-May, 1999: NOAA's five laboratories, data center, and National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office move into and occupy the David Skaggs Research Center.