- Three "Innovation Bays," with one already occupied by Alquist 3D
- Lobby gathering area
- Offices and and open workspace
- Classrooms
- Conference rooms
- Pitch space for presentations
- Maker space and storage areas
Workforce Innovation Center
Welcome to Weld County’s first innovation center, opening Fall 2026.
Aims is All In on igniting opportunities for students, employers and the greater Weld County community.
A hub for immersive, hands-on learning
Located at the northeast end of Greeley Campus, the Aims Workforce Innovation Center is designed to adapt to the growing needs of Weld County. By partnering with businesses across varied industries, the Center is a hub for collaboration, ideation and innovation for Northern Colorado.
Students, faculty, community members, entrepreneurs and area businesses can access amenities including the Center's three high-tech "Innovation Bays," gather in collaborative spaces and tap into a supportive professional network for startup and expanding businesses.
Aims has already signed the first industry tenant for one of the three Innovation Bays: Alquist 3D, a national leader in 3D concrete printing that will use the Center for research and development.
The AWIC features flexible touchdown spaces and open work areas, including cubicles and office space. These collaborative environments are designed to support startup companies and incubator tenants as they research, develop, and grow.
The dynamic think-tank and pitch area is designed for brainstorming, collaboration, and sharing ideas. It provides a versatile environment where business tenants can pitch concepts and Aims students can practice presentations.
The 49,500-square-foot Aims Workforce Innovation Center features a flexible, future-ready design built with sustainable materials like cross-laminated timber. This purpose-built facility is designed to continuously evolve alongside emerging technologies and the changing needs of the Northern Colorado workforce.
Explore the Innovation Bays
See the specs, dimensions, and scalable footprints of the state-of-the-art incubation workspaces designed to help you test bold ideas and build new technologies. These flexible work bays provide the essential power, data, and physical space necessary to safely operate high-tech machinery. You also gain access to a collaborative network of fellow entrepreneurs and emerging student talent right on campus. Discover how this environment adapts to support your specific industry needs and helps your business grow.
The vision for the Aims Workforce Innovation Center includes a vibrant new concept: the Insights Cafe. This planned space acts as a welcoming hub for students, faculty, and community partners to connect and share ideas. By combining a casual coffee shop atmosphere with emerging technology, the cafe offers an approachable, low-stakes environment for everyone.
Imagine grabbing a latte made by a robotic barista while discovering the latest in artificial intelligence. Future plans for this exciting space include:
- Hosting informal community meetups like a Vibe Coding Club.
- Connecting you with AI Mentors-in-Residence during casual office hours.
- Interacting with exhibits like an AI Career Explorer right from your seat.
This concept highlights a dedication to making new technology feel accessible and fun for all visitors. You can look forward to an inviting place where education, industry, and imagination intersect.
This rendering showcases a conceptual Insights Cafe, featuring a robotic arm preparing your favorite beverage.
A Virtual Tour of the Aims Workforce Innovation Center
Take a virtual flight through the Aims Workforce Innovation Center (AWIC). Opening in Fall 2026, this state-of-the-art facility will connect Aims learners, local entrepreneurs, and the broader community. From hands-on VR simulation labs to Weld County’s very first business accelerator, every square foot is built to adapt to the technologies of tomorrow. Explore our adaptable work bays, collaborative think-tanks, and immersive learning zones.
Amiri Ellington, a Project Engineer with Roche Constructors and an Aims Community College alumnus, brings his journey full circle by helping construct the new Aims Workforce Innovation Center (AWIC). Utilizing the skills he learned in the Aims construction management program, Amiri now helps coordinate the development of this forward-looking, high-tech facility. His hands-on work with the AWIC is a testament to how Aims graduates are actively shaping the future of the institution and community that helped build them.
From its conception, a vital goal was to have the physical spaces of the Aims Workforce Innovation Center reflect its purpose. That's why Aims is prioritizing sourcing U.S.-made, sustainability-forward materials and hiring local companies for design, materials sourcing and construction.
The building will have a geothermal mechanical system that harnesses the earth's internal energy for direct heating and cooling, powered by 500-foot-deep vertical wells. The structure also features more energy-efficient cross-laminated timber (CLT) from Alabama, electrical systems from Texas, and steel fabrication from Grand Junction, Colorado.
Denver-based OZ Architecture designed the Center and Roche Constructors of Greeley is serving as the general contractor. Roche Constructors regularly hires Aims construction management program students, including to help build the Center.
Are you ready to move from being a spectator to a creator? Sign up for "The Insider," the official general newsletter of the Aims Workforce Innovation Center.
By subscribing, you will gain access to exclusive "Insider Knowledge," helping you identify signals of change and industrial shifts before they even hit the mainstream.
Here is what you will get delivered straight to your inbox:
- Consistent Updates: A comprehensive monthly newsletter, plus weekly automated "Scout" updates keeping you in the loop on all center activity.
- Exclusive Features: Spotlights highlighting practitioners and industry experts.
- Multimedia Content: Direct links to the newest videos in our "Innovation Layers" series.
- Event Access: A live calendar featuring upcoming Expert Talks and hands-on Training workshops.
The Aims Workforce Innovation Center is a big step forward for our region, and we want you to be part of it. Erin Fink Smith is your go-to resource for all things AWIC. If you want to know how you can stop reacting to the future and start shaping it with us, email us at AWIC@aims.edu!
