NOOKS, BRYAN, AND TREANORHL PARTNER TO DESIGN, BUILD, AND HOST THIS INNOVATIVE CONCEPT IN COLORADO SPRINGS.
The Classified-Infrastructure-As-A-Service model is similar to the cloud computing model: users can eliminate the majority of upfront costs, make the most out of their expenses, take advantage of flexible subscription services, and avoid maintenance costs that are shifted to the vendor. This approach helps users save time and focus on their business goals. What’s innovative is applying this concept to the aerospace and defense industries, enabling defense contractors to compete for classified contracts in the same arena as those who already have access to secure facilities.
Nooks is the only company authorized by the US Government to offer flexible access to classified facilities and networks. When businesses, academia, startups, and government agencies need a secure space for sensitive and classified information, for the first time, they can subscribe to access a network of secure facilities without the expense of building their own. Nooks has partnered with Bryan Construction and TreanorHL to empower small businesses and nontraditional defense ventures in accelerating classified operations.
WHAT INFLUENCES AEROSPACE AND DEFENSE COMPANIES’ ABILITY TO START OPERATING?
Innovators working in defense, government, and emerging technologies face a significant obstacle in their path toward developing new ideas and technologies for national security: lack of access to physical and IT infrastructure required to work on classified data and systems. Building a government-approved secure workspace is tremendously expensive for small companies entering the market, creating an entry barrier for those with modern ideas and technologies. Startups without access to a secure workspace can be excluded from significant government contracts that contribute to national security, hindering their growth and progress.
“Colorado’s support has been instrumental in this journey, with unparalleled advocacy at state, county, and city levels,” said Trevor Nolan, Director of Nooks Colorado. “Our collaboration with Bryan Construction and TreanorHL epitomizes our commitment to mission-driven partnerships. These companies share our dedication to excellence and align perfectly with our goals. The cooperative spirit of Colorado, coupled with its robust support for the military, is extraordinary. We are honored to partner with these esteemed companies and are thrilled about our most ambitious project yet, here, in Colorado Springs. This venture is not just a milestone for Nooks, but a leap forward for the defense sector.
NOOKS WILL OPEN ITS THIRD AND MOST PROMINENT LOCATION IN COLORADO SPRINGS, ITS FLAGSHIP.
Nooks will construct a 60,000-square-foot facility in Colorado Springs with the partnership of Bryan Construction and TreanorHL.
Bryan Construction has been building classified spaces since the early 2000s and has executed over a quarter of a billion dollars in contracts with over 350 projects specific to this market.
“The defense industry is crucial for our national security and staying ahead of other countries,” said Doug Woody, Vice President of Bryan Construction. “Nooks offers a vital service through their Classified-Infrastructure-As-A-Service, which allows companies to quickly access classified space and facilitate collaboration between the government and private businesses. We are honored to have been chosen as Nooks’ Design-Build partner for their flagship location in Colorado Springs. Nooks’ service is of great importance to the local community, the state of Colorado, and our nation. Bryan Construction has the experience and expertise to bring their vision to reality.”
Echoing Doug’s point, Nick McCormick, TreanorHL principal and the architectural project manager shared, “Our Advanced Industries studio has evolved alongside the Colorado defense industry, offering clients a deep knowledge of the specialized facilities needed to support this industry and how to precisely design these facilities to each client’s needs. Having served both government and commercial clients, we believe Nooks’ approach to the design of these spaces is a game-changer. It is a privilege to be a part of this project at the forefront of classified space design and our team looks forward to continuing this work with Nooks and Bryan Construction.”
“We are pleased that our project win announced last April with Nooks is already showing a multiplier effect,” said Johnna Reeder Kleymeyer, President & CEO of Colorado Springs Chamber & EDC. “The partnership between Nooks and Bryan Construction affirms the importance of attracting new companies and helping existing businesses expand in our region, building economic opportunity for existing suppliers, vendors, and contractors. The ripple effect of economic development projects boosts growth by creating business opportunities for local companies and additional jobs that support our families.”
HOW CLASSIFIED-INFRASTRUCTURE-AS-A-SERVICE IS CHANGING AN INDUSTRY.
Sensitive compartmented information facilities (SCIFs) are necessary for conducting classified defense operations, but building them is a greatly expensive endeavor that requires sponsorship and accreditation from the US government. The accreditation process is highly regulated and time-consuming, which further limits access to SCIFs for small businesses and nontraditional defense contractors. Nooks’ Classified-Infrastructure-As-A-Service aims to solve this problem by providing a shared space where multiple SCIFs can be used to work on classified projects.
Nooks will manage the SCIF spaces and make them accessible to thousands of end users. By providing affordable and secure spaces for small businesses and nontraditional defense contractors, Nooks will help accelerate their work and provide access to opportunities that were previously unavailable. With easy and attractive solutions, end users can scale their operations to meet the needs of the industry.
About Nooks
Nooks, stands at the forefront of defense innovation, empowering the national security community with premier secure office spaces and cybersecurity services. Historically, the Department of Defense’s reliance on a select few corporations for classified technology has been a limiting factor. Our innovation lies in eliminating the most significant hurdle – the need for cost-prohibitive physical infrastructure. We have pioneered ready-to-use spaces that bring together industry leaders, academic minds, and defense experts. This approach democratizes access, inviting diverse and groundbreaking solutions for the U.S. government. Colorado Springs marks the third site within the subscription-accessible Nooks Network, offering commercially accredited work areas for storing and processing information and materials tied to classified US Government contracts.About Bryan Construction
Bryan Construction is a construction management and general contracting firm that has been serving Colorado, the Western United States, and abroad for over 45 years. Our mission is to establish long-lasting partnerships with our clients by providing them with integrity, accountability, and expertise. We have been a preferred contractor for over four decades, with over 300 contracts totaling over $1.3 billion in SCIF, mission-critical, defense, and federal government contracts. As a 100% employee-owned company, our employees have a stake in every project, enabling us to make impactful decisions that benefit our clients and the organization as a whole. Our Multi-Family, Commercial, Federal, and Facility Services groups are driven and dedicated to going the extra mile. Our diverse experience across a range of project types allows us to accommodate any project and provide expert knowledge to deliver results. We believe that every great idea must start with the right space. It is our job to lay the foundation for our community’s potential.About TreanorHL
TreanorHL is a national architecture, planning, and design firm that employs over 150 professionals in 11 offices across the United States. The firm works with incredible teams that turn dreams into reality and obstacles into solutions. TreanorHL has been honored with award-winning projects for clients in various industries across the country, and has also been named an Outstanding Emerging Professional Friendly Firm for its dedication to growing young professionals. Beyond architecture, planning, and design, TreanorHL also provides interior design, civil engineering, landscape architecture, lab planning, and medical planning in-house. Its practice-based design studios work in the following market sectors: Advanced Industries, Greek Life, Health, Higher Education, Historic Preservation, Justice, and PreK-12 Education.This article has been featured in the March 2024 issue of the Colorado Real Estate Journal’s ➡️ Building Dialogue Magazine.
