A major new Zyn manufacturing facility is taking shape in northeast Aurora, and it is already producing product.
Philip Morris International is building the roughly 150 acre, $600 million campus at Harvest Road and 52nd Avenue within the Sun Empire industrial park. The location places the plant in the heart of the airport area industrial submarket, just south of Denver International Airport and minutes from E 470 and I 70.
Even as portions of the site remain under construction, commercial production has already started, with Aurora made Zyn nicotine pouches entering distribution. The project is expected to support about 500 direct jobs once fully operational.
The surrounding area is defined by large scale warehouse and distribution facilities that rely on proximity to DIA’s cargo operations and regional highway access. Sun Empire has emerged as a key industrial park in Aurora’s growth story.
Sun Empire was purchased for $49.7 million and includes 316 acres of undeveloped land. The Opus Group, which describes itself as a family of commercial real estate development, construction and design companies, acquired the site from a private seller. The first phase of development delivered two industrial logistics buildings capable of accommodating about 1.6 million square feet.
Opus has pointed to changing supply chain dynamics as a key driver for the park. More companies, particularly large e commerce related users, are moving to shorten supply chains and place inventory closer to end consumers, a strategy well suited to the airport area submarket.
As construction continues and the campus moves toward full build out, the Zyn facility stands as one of the most significant recent industrial investments in Aurora’s airport area.