Lockheed Cuts Back on ‘Skunk Works’ Buildings

Lockheed Corp. says it has slightly scaled back relocation plans for its famed “Skunk Works” advanced-aircraft development unit, which is in the process of moving from Burbank to Palmdale.

The unit, formally named Lockheed Advanced Development Co., now plans to build a 225,000-square-foot office building in Palmdale and to remodel or construct nine other buildings there, said spokesman Richard Stadler.

LADC originally wanted to build a 300,000-square-foot, $60-million headquarters building in Palmdale, but put those plans on hold in February pending more details about U.S. defense spending plans.

About 1,800 of the unit’s workers are already in Palmdale, and LADC plans to move the unit’s remaining 2,800 employees to Palmdale by 1994. The parent company is headquartered in Calabasas.