Developers broke ground Wednesday on a 36-acre, mixed-use project called The District near the Regional Transportation District’s Dry Creek light rail station.

Bruce Baukol Capital Partners’ plans include 2.5 million square feet of office space, 1,800 residential units, 30,000 square feet of retail space and a 200-room hotel.

Infrastructure work is scheduled to be complete by May, with “vertical construction on several planned projects” slated to start before the year is out, according to a news release.

Metro Denver’s newest subdivision growing rapidly

“The District is setting a new standard for mixed-use developments in Southeast Denver, helping to meet the demands of a growing workforce,” said Chad Brue, chief executive officer for Brue Baukol, in a statement. “This development will offer an intentional mix of office, residential, retail and hotel with walkable streets and diverse amenities, all while maintaining important connections to Colorado’s landscape with open green space and mountain views.”

Also on the development team: Tryba Architects, Design Workshop, Martin/Martin Consulting Engineers and JHL Constructors.

The development area is immediately west of Interstate 25, between the IKEA store and the Dry Creek light rail station. The Partners closed on the land in 2017 and have been working on the entitlements and infrastructure.

“The District brings the next generation of employment centers to metro Denver providing vibrant public spaces, transit connectivity, housing diversity and new office space in a dynamic mix of uses and smart infrastructure,” said Centennial Mayor Stephanie Piko in a statement.

The area used to be known as the Jones District until a recent rebranding.