Story ID: 441
Cirrus Opens Headquarters Innovation Center
By: Matt Thurber
Caption: New facility enables further product development activity
Word Count: 208
Cirrus Aircraft held a grand opening of its new innovation center at the company’s Duluth (Minnesota) International Airport headquarters on September 26. More than 300 people work at the innovation center, and Cirrus is hiring more technicians and engineers to work at the facility.Comprising a 189,000-sq-ft building on a 39-acre campus, the innovation center supports Cirrus’ current products and services and is designed to facilitate exploration of future product developments.The center includes a new integration test lab, a larger materials and processes lab, an upgraded advanced design and development lab, environmental equipment and testing capabilities, and more floor space for development and testing, according to Cirrus.“These new facilities and capabilities enable our engineers, technicians, and researchers to more rapidly design, develop, and certify our next generation of Cirrus products in a connected, synergetic environment,” said Ken Harness, senior v-p of product development.  “The innovation center is an incredible company milestone that supports the future development and endeavors of Cirrus Aircraft product development,” said CEO Zean Nielsen. He highlighted Cirrus’ continuing investments in the Duluth campus and the city. “We have worked closely with our partners to renovate the building and hire more engineers and technicians to join the new facility in Duluth,” he said., plain_text