When it opened in 1995, 37km from downtown Denver, DEN was an island surrounded by endless prairie farmland and was the realisation of a grand vision that regional leaders formed in the 1980s to provide a new economic gateway to Colorado.
At the time, Denver International was at the vanguard of new airports that were being built around the world which would become the first of a new generation of aerotropolises, including Incheon International Airport, Abu Dhabi and Kuala Lumpur.
Although Denver International was a virtual city within itself, it was not an aerotropolis as the term is understood today. Rather the airport's success and the region's economic growth have provided impetus to the realisation of Colorado's next grand vision - a burgeoning airport city.
Nevertheless, the development of an airport city around DEN will be highly contingent on economic conditions and solid partnerships among several government jurisdictions.
While the City and County of Denver owns and operates the gateway, it cannot and should not unilaterally determine the airport's future or that of the land surrounding the airport. Instead Denver must work cooperatively with two other counties and three other cities to realise an aerotropolis that serves the wider community.
"We are very focused on what can be for the greater good of the region," says aviation manager, Kim Day. "What's good for the region is also good for Denver International Airport."
The increased capacity that six runways represent is an edge that DEN has over most other airports. As aviation demand increases over time, the incremental cost of adding those runways is an advantage that DEN is focused on leveraging in the future. Capacity will become a commodity; airports that can offer this commodity affordably will surpass the competition.
A surplus of land - the DEN potential - enables an airport city to develop with enormous flexibility and with a diverse mix of commerce to support the users of DEN.
Warehousing and light industry can coexist with business parks, recreational parks, conference centres, retail complexes and tourism-related facilities, such as hotels, golf courses and restaurants.
The airport city must be a regional effort, and commerce within the airport city cannot rely solely upon one industry. Economic health demands multiple kinds of businesses and a balanced approach to development.
"The only aerotropolis sector that cannot coexist within or adjacent to DEN is housing," says Day. "In the United States, housing and airports don't mix, even if it is employee housing. The FAA's noise regulations make it difficult, if not impossible, to develop on-site housing."
Beyond the designated noise buffer surrounding the airport, however, housing can be built, and several new communities are already growing within a 10-15 minute drive of DEN. These communities are outside
a corridor where the average noise level is 60 decibels. Complementing the housing are numerous hotels and restaurants.
By 2015, an electric commuter rail line will connect DEN with Denver's city centre. This project is part of the 12-year public transportation initiative called FasTracks. DEN has provided 50 hectares of airport property for the track right-of-way.
The airport is also building the rail terminus station at DEN's Jeppesen Terminal. Denver has hired architect Santiago Calatrava to design the station complex. A preliminary concept calls for a sub-grade train station connected to the terminal.
Above the station would be a plaza, which would be bordered by an on-site hotel and perhaps some retail shops and restaurants. DEN is calling the new station project the South Terminal Program, and it will be the airport's most important project during the next five years.
"The rail line not only will give visitors a speedy link to Denver but also will be a vital transportation mode for an aerotropolis," Day says. Two more stations along the airport rail line may be feasible. Construction would be funded by private developers and could be catalysts for business and residential development.
Denver has a long-term aerotropolis vision. It is a vision that will be collaborative, responsive to demand and flexible, depending on the economy.
