One of the key components of the Quarry development is underway and it should serve as an attraction for future tech companies.

The home of Garmin Cochrane (Dynastream Innovations) is under construction and the 43,000 square foot building is great news for the Cochrane and area community, says Cindy Casemore, Vice President Leasing and Legal for Springwood Development.

"The biggest component of this is we are keeping a major employer in the Cochrane marketplace by doing a build to suit for them and then the other critical piece is that the building is designed to be able to add a third story should they ever need to expand; they won't have to move, they won't have to shut down any current operations, they just carry on business and we expand them."

The innovative building will feature 5,000 square feet retail space on the main floor, 22,000 square feet on the first floor, 21,000 on the second floor, and is designed in such a way that Garmin can expand to a third floor without interruption. "When we set our designers to the task we said we wanted to be able to give them another 20,000 square feet on a third floor. How do we beef up the steel? How do we make sure we can do this without interrupting their current business? So the elevators, mechanical systems, and steel were all designed to carry a third story, it requires an additional investment by Springwood at the outset but it allows some certainty should they ever need to expand they won't have to necessarily relocate."

With having a major player like Garmin setting up long term operations, there is hope it will attract other technological companies to consider Cochrane as a home base. "Cochrane is a great town, and its growth has been huge over the last 5,10 years. Keeping a major employer in town it only increases property value, it keeps people employed with steady incomes, and it attracts other businesses to look to Cochrane with interest, and possibly preference over downtown Calgary."

"This is a very exciting time for us- over the past 18 years, we've outgrown 5 buildings in Cochrane and with this most recent growth spurt, we had to ask 'where do we want to work?' It is the active lifestyle, community atmosphere and ability to innovate, design, and test our line of fitness, wellness, and outdoor products that made us say 'Cochrane!' We're looking forward to our new office space in the Bow Street Commons at the Quarry and growing our future in such an amazing community," says Jim Rooney, Managing Director for Garmin Cochrane.

Casemore couldn't be more pleased to have Garmin headquartered in the downtown core. "We are really excited to have Garmin coming to the site we think it will be a great addition. Jim and Shane who are the two people we worked most closely with at Garmin have been fantastic, we've have really enjoyed working with them. We are really excited to start a long working relationship with that company."

The shovel hit the ground in February this year and Garmin is expected to take possession early to mid 2018. The new Garmin office will meet the current needs of Garmin Cochrane and is designed to support future stages of growth and innovation for the company.