True North Commons, the 57-acre parcel under development outside the north gate of the U.S. Air Force Academy (USAFA), is quickly evolving into a soaring new gateway to Colorado Springs (COS), a project made possible by a host of unique partnerships. The development’s centerpiece, the $32 million Hosmer Visitor Center which will double as a formal Colorado Welcome Center — the region’s first — serving as a visible, accessible reminder of the opportunities both at the USAFA and within the broader Pikes Peak region.
The project represents a unique public-private effort between the USAFA and the City of Colorado Springs, The State of Colorado, Secretary of the Air Force, the Air Force Civil Engineer Center, and a host of civilian organizations. Designed to symbolize an aircraft taking flight, the project also utilized a gift-in-kind contribution to the Academy through an Enhanced Use Lease agreement.
Carlos Cruz-Gonzalez, director of logistics, engineering, and force protection at USAFA, explains the project would not have been possible without the support of the city. “They have truly worked with us and allowed us to make this dream come true — to have a visitor center that is visible and accessible.”
Shawna Lippert, a senior economic development specialist for COS, states, “These state-of-the-art facilities will be open for use by our entire community, and we look forward to the future corporate events, weddings, and other celebrations that will be held in these placemaking spaces that celebrate our military history.”
The goal is to impress and teach visitors about the cadet journey and post-graduation opportunities.“We want people to understand the caliber of cadets that we have, the caliber of our program, and then what happens when cadets leave and how successful they are in helping us execute the Air Force and Space Force missions,” says Cruz-Gonzalez.
Lippert says the project will strengthen the Academy’s foundation in the community as well as bring outside dollars to the region. “When you combine the Visitor Center with the other four ‘City for Champions’ projects, the impact truly becomes exponential,” she shares.
