Phoenix Development News

[desertpunk]

University of Phoenix Opens New Campus

The University of Phoenix unveiled its new, one-of-a-kind campus — the John Sperling Center for Educational Innovation.

This award-winning facility provides students with technologically advanced, yet practical learning environments, or “classrooms without boundaries.”

The campus, at 1625 Fountainhead Parkway, Fountainhead Corporate Center, in Tempe, celebrated its grand opening yesterday. Fountainhead won the 2012 RED Award for Best Office Project. Its designer, DAVIS, was named Architect of the Year.

“The innovation at this new campus embodies the foundation of what University of Phoenix prides itself in delivering to its students – an education without boundaries,” said Bill Pepicello, president of the University of Phoenix.

Technologically advanced classrooms called “Classrooms Without Boundaries” were designed with practicality at top-of-mind for students. The walls are writable surfaces, as well as the desktops, which flip to vertical positions allowing for easy presentations. Through use of eBeam® technology, instructors and students can work directly from projected computer screen images on the walls where they can open files, click on tabs or images, drag and drop files, etc., with the use of a special “pen.” The use of telepresence in these classrooms can extend programs/instruction into smaller, remote campuses and communities, such as in Yuma, where testing is already underway.

[desertpunk]

AZRE Magazine

All Aboard The PHX Sky Train


http://azremagazine.com/news/constru...-phx-sky-train

PHX Sky Train Stage 1 at Sky Harbor is a moving example of Hensel Phelps’ grand presence and reputation in Arizona

Ask Allan Bliesmer what’s most special about the $644M PHX Sky Train project, and his answer isn’t that surprising. “The team effort toward a common goal,” responds Bliesmer, operations manager for Hensel Phelps Construction Co., general contractor for the Stage 1 fixed facilities of the massive project at Sky Harbor International Airport. “The city, designer, and Hensel Phelps addressed each challenge with a solutions-orientated approach.

“The people involved in the project refrained from developing or maintaining personal agendas, and worked together, utilizing each member’s expertise, to develop the best design and construction solutions for the project.”

Once Hensel Phelps was selected as construction manager for the first phase of the train’s stations and elevated guide-way tracks, preliminary work began and lasted 20 months — from June 2008 to February 2010. (Bombardier Transportation was chosen as the system provider).

Stage 1 — a 1.7-mile stretch — will transport airport visitors and employees between METRO light rail, east economy parking and Terminal 4, which serves 80% of Sky Harbor’s passengers. Stage 1 is scheduled for completion in 2Q 2012.

What was it about the company that helped Hensel Phelps land such a historic project? Prior to the start of the PHX Sky Train project, Bliesmer says, Hensel Phelps had just completed the automated train project at the Dallas-Ft. Worth International Airport. The Dallas-Ft. Worth system was installed throughout the entire airport and spanned a total of 5 miles in length with 8 stations.

In addition, Hensel Phelps has completed billions of dollars of aviation work around the country including automated train systems, terminals, hangars, administration facilities, rental car facilities, air traffic control towers and parking structures at a number of airports.

But one feature that makes PHX Sky Train different from other projects is a 350- foot bridge that carries the train above an active taxiway that is large enough for a 747 to pass through. An article in a national construction magazine boasted that the project “features many innovative design elements,” including the bridge.

“The Taxiway R crossing is a unique item not generally featured at other airports around the world,” Bliesmer says. “In order to maintain full use of the taxiway, the design had to accommodate a ‘bridge’ that would not encumber the use of the largest aircraft planned at the airport.

“To satisfy this, a 350-foot cast in-place concrete ‘bridge,’ at an elevation of 80 feet above grade, was incorporated to provide the necessary clearance. Another innovative approach was the use of precast tub girders in lieu of cast in-place concrete structural elements for a majority of the guideway structure,” Bliesmer adds. “The use of precast allowed the construction team to minimize the real estate needed on the ground to install shoring required for a traditional cast in-place concrete approach, resulting in minimization of issues associated with public access, airport operations and safety.”

The automated train was a necessity. Sky Harbor serves 42M passengers a year, and the number is projected to rise to 40M to 50M in 2013. The goal is to remove about 20,000 cars and trucks — up to 20% of the traffic circling Sky Harbor — from the airport area. The project is also a boon to the local economy. Stage 1 has created an estimated 6,000 jobs.

[...]

[desertpunk]

Banner Health Set To Expand In Valley With New Facilities

Banner Health is continuing a hot streak of construction projects with the building of four East Valley health centers and the expansion of Banner Estrella.

A new, 144-bed patient tower is being added to the Banner Estrella Medical Center campus, at Loop 101 and Thomas Road in Phoenix.

“We are pleased to be able to grow in support of the needs of the communities we serve,” says Deb Krmpotic, CEO for Banner Estrella Medical Center.

The campus will undergo remodeling of existing obstetrical suites, the addition of a surgical suite, an increase in emergency department capacity and the construction of more visitor and staff parking. McCarthy Building Companies is the general contractor and SmithGroupJJR is the architect.

Other facility upgrades include numerous infrastructure improvements for future expansion, such as two, shelled patient bed floors, a new cardiac catheterization lab, three new operating rooms and additional medical imaging capabilities.

“This is especially important for our Women and Infants Services department and our emergency department, both of which are regularly at capacity due to our reputation for providing excellence in patient care,” Krmpotic says.

The tower is also expected to provide enough additional capacity to meet the demand for patient care services through 2018. Construction on this multi-phase project is anticipated to begin in August and be completed by 3Q 2015.

In conjunction with the expansion, the Banner Health Board of Directors also approved the creation of four new centers in the East Valley, which will cost approximately $45.2M and are expected to open in 2013.

These projects will mimic Banner Health Center in Maricopa, which opened in May, but will also reflect the community need. Centers are phased to grow as the patient base expands and will be able to nearly triple in size at full build out.

The new sites, with locations in Gilbert, Queen Creek, Chandler and East Mesa, will further the reach of Banner Health primary care services within Maricopa County. There will be access to general lab and imaging services, community health education and a mix of primary care service for everyone from babies to seniors.

[desertpunk]

New South Mountain Community Library

Phoenix is on a roll with its dual-purpose libraries. Last year, its Palo Verde Library | Maryvale Community Center was named a New Landmark Library. This year, the partnership between Maricopa County Community College District and Phoenix Public Library yields another winner. Street-side, the South Mountain Community Library wears a public library face, but its back side is all about the campus. Inside, the functions are seamlessly blended and appropriately distributed with a public focus on the entry level and an academic one on the upper level.

The building’s strong recti*linear form, clad in copper planks broken by glass rooftop monitors, elevates the library’s presence as a center of knowledge. These farm field–shaped forms along with abstracted patterns of cotton, sorghum, asters, and citrus on the interiors reference the site’s agricultural heritage.

[desertpunk]

Carlyle Development Group Unveils New Mall Entrance Designs and Mixed-Use Leasing Strategy at Metrocenter Mall in Phoenix, AZ

PHOENIX, AZ— Metrocenter mall (top left photo) owner Carlyle Development Group (CDG) has unveiled new mall entrance designs and an innovative leasing and redevelopment plan that will transform the 1.3 million-square-foot Phoenix retail landmark into a multi-faceted, mixed-use environment for shopping, dining and entertainment.

CDG presented its plans last week at an on-site industry event—the first of its kind since CDG purchased the mall, which is located on Interstate 17 between Peoria and Dunlap roads in Phoenix.

[desertpunk]

Ground Broken For New Maricopa County Sherriff's Office

D.L. Withers Construction LLC breaks ground on the new headquarters for the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office near Sixth Ave. and Jefferson St., Phoenix. The five-story, 128K SF building is expected to open by the end of 2013. The project allocates $19M for technology and $73.5M for design and construction. Gabor Lorant Architects Inc. is responsible for design.

[lions_215]

Wow I did not notice just how fast things were springing up all over Phoenix. It's great to see so much new development occurring here in Phoenix. I saw the construction of the new South Mountain library since it is right next to South Mountain Community College were I was going to school before changing colleges!

[desertpunk]

Hotel Palomar (Finally) Opens In Downtown Phoenix

by John on Jun 8, 2012

So the Palomar Hotel Finally Opened this last Tuesday in Downtown Phoenix at Cityscape and should add a new hip place to hang out in downtown. The hotel owned by the Kimpton Group boasts 242 rooms and an outdoor pool on the third floor. The hotel has two bars to quench your summer thirst and a restaurant called Blue Hound Kitchen. Budget for the hotel? 90 Million Dollars.

[desertpunk]

ASU Downtown To Begin Construction On New Rec Center

ASU released new images of its approved Rec Center for the Downtown Phoenix Campus that will be built next to the Lincoln YMCA. “The five-story building is going to have cardio equipment and weights on the ground floor and a few multi-purpose rooms and an academic space on the second floor. Basketball courts will fill the third floor, an indoor track will encircle them on the fourth floor and the roof will host the lounging pool.” The project is expected to be started in the next two months and finish by the end of Summer 2013. Project Costs are estimated to be in the range of $20M.

[desertpunk]

Concord Eastridge Building

Concord Eastridge is building a 320 unit mixed use project in Downtown Phoenix between Roosevelt, McKinley Streets, and between Third and Fourth Street. The project will be a $52 Million Dollar project that will include 7500 GSF of ground floor retail and a 5 level parking garage. The project is intended to serve students attending ASU Downtown and the Phoenix Biomedical Campus. Construction has commenced and should be completed by the Summer of 2013.

[desertpunk]

Phoenix Biomedical Campus Progressing

The newest addition to the Phoenix Biomedical Campus is progressing nicely. The center, when completed, will be a part of the city-owned Phoenix Biomedical Campus. When fully completed the Campus will be a 28-acre urban medical and bioscience campus with more than six million square feet of biomedical-related research, academic and clinical facilities.

HSEB http://www.dpr.com/projects/health-s...medical-campus

[desertpunk]

Chicago Cubs, City Of Mesa Break Ground On Team’s $99M Baseball Facility

The 2012 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was played Tuesday night in Kansas City, but there were plenty of heavy hitters present Wednesday morning as the Chicago Cubs and the City of Mesa broke ground on a new, $99M year-round facility — Riverview Park.

The project, at the SEC of the intersection of the Loop 101 and 202 freeways, was approved by Mesa voters in 2010. The park will feature a 15,000-fan main stadium with a video board, shaded seats and luxury suites as well as improved concessions and restrooms. Construction is scheduled to be completed before the 2014 spring training season.

“A stadium is a stadium; the beauty is the game,” said Mesa Mayor Scott Smith. “This has been a community effort. It’s all about the Cactus League and what it means to the Valley and Arizona.”

Added Chicago Cubs Executive Vice President Mike Lufrano: “This facility will provide the best fan experience in spring training and offer world class training and development facilities for our players year round. We look forward to bringing this new ballpark to Mesa and continuing our commitment to work together on a stadium which will make the community proud.”

[desertpunk]

Office Market Rebounds From Past Quarter Absorption Slump


bryansnider.com

The Phoenix office market has made genuine progress over last quarter’s disappointing retreat by posting strong absorption and vacancy figures. Vacancy rates this quarter are the lowest since 4Q 2009 and absorption for the quarter is at the highest rate since 4Q 2006. Even with an anemic recovery and the of lack of new product, the Phoenix office market appears to be building momentum.

With all the good news, some challenges still persist. Commercial rental rates are still declining as significant vacancies remain. Business is still reluctant to hire and add additional space and uncertaintly in the market creates a wait-and-see approach which is detrimental to market momentum. One certainty is restored, inventories will begin to tighten, as they already have in several submarkets. Add to that, a significant amount of obsolete product that will need to be replaced will finally put pressure on rates to move higher.

Vacancy has dropped 90 basis points to 26.2%, down from 27.1% last quarter. Absorption has increased by 735,052 SF. This significant uptick is in stark comparison to over 300,000 SF decline of last quarter. The 44th St. and S. Tempe/Ahwatukee submarkets have both increased absorption by more than 100,000 SF each this quarter. Deer Valley Airport and Northwest Phoenix submarkets are struggling the most with absorption losses.

“Last quarter’s retreat took everyone by surprise. However, absorption has rebounded nicely and we’re expecting that momentum to continue throughout the remainder of the year,” said Matt DePinto, Senior Research Analyst with Lee & Associates.

Rental rates again retreated for the fourth straight quarter and for the past 16 out of 17 quarters to $20.41 PSF. Higher quarterly absorption rates will help to slow rate decline until a rising trend can take hold. Only 6 out of 28 submarkets have seen lease rate increases this quarter.

Sales activity posted a total of $182.2M in 122 transactions. Total dollar volume is down from last quarter’s $247M. Price per SF was reported as $103.72, also down from last quarter. Cap rates were calculated at 6.74%, down from 7.83% last quarter. Leasing activity remains well within historic norms for number of transactions at 382. That is an increase of 35 over last quarter. However, SF leased is down about 6% from last quarter.

The Phoenix office market is expected to see better outcomes as the year goes forward.

[desertpunk]

Work Set To Begin On SkySong Residential

SkySong, the ASU Scottsdale Innovation Center, is taking the next major step forward toward its eventual buildout, as construction is set to begin on 325 residential units.

The $44M project will mark the next major phase of the project, and will include the first residential units in the mixed-use project. The apartments will be built around the existing parking structure on the southeast portion of the project.

Construction will be done in four phases, with the first 83 units scheduled to open for occupancy in October 2013. All 325 units are scheduled to be built out by April 2014.

The apartments will feature innovative, modern architecture and a variety of floor plans to attract professionals who are employed in the area, as well as those who work on the SkySong campus. It will feature loft designs with private patios or balconies, granite and local stone accents, a large pool and Jacuzzi, an on-site exercise room and many other state-of-the-art features.

MT Builders is the construction firm responsible for the project buildout, and Lincoln Property Company has been selected as the property management firm for the project.

Don Couvillion, Vice President of Real Estate for the ASU Foundation, said the apartments will be highly competitive in the marketplace and serve a key need in the area around SkySong.

“We’re very excited to get this project under construction because we believe it has the potential to be highly successful,” Couvillion said. “The kind of high-quality residential component we are planning will meet a key market niche in the area and provide new residential opportunities for those wanting to live in this dynamic part of the Valley.”

Sharon Harper, President & CEO of Plaza Companies, said the residential component is a key part of making the SkySong vision a reality.

“SkySong has always been planned as a mixed-use development that provides an exceptional environment for living and working,” Harper said. “With this residential project underway, we are getting closer than ever to our goal of truly revitalizing this property and making SkySong an ideal destination for the kind of jobs and industries that will have a positive economic impact on our community.”

[desertpunk]

AZBex

Private and Public Development Opportunities Facilitated By City


Photo Credit: SmithGroupJJR

Chandler is looking for developers to step in and turn undeveloped and underdeveloped properties into downtown successes. Six public-private partnership and seven private development opportunities are highlighted between the Loop 202 Santan Freeway and Chandler Boulevard on the Arizona Avenue corridor.

From the top floor of the new city hall, Chandler Mayor Jay Tibshraeny sees successes and opportunities. Economic development director Christine Mackay and downtown development director Teri Kilgore are both in the “glass half full” category when it comes to downtown.

Revamping the streetscape and building the new city hall were turning points for downtown revitalization and redevelopment. To mark downtown’s rejuvenation, the city council recently approved nearly $190K for new Downtown brand identifying signs.

“We’ve had quite a bit of interest (in downtown Chandler) since the completion of Arizona Avenue and city hall,” explains Kilgore. “Those two projects really helped make the vision (of downtown) real for…the development community.”

“We brought all of our development departments together,” says Mackay, “and completely revamped our project review process. All of the departments understand the importance of moving a project to completion quickly. Instead of spelling out a timeline, we learn the developer’s desired occupancy date, and work the timeline—within legal requirements—to meet that date.”

New and Old City Halls: Catalysts to Future Development

The Mayor Tibshraeny compliments the foresight of previous administrations – including policy during his earlier tenure as mayor from 1994 through 2002 – for the downtown vision. The former “new” city hall, located just north of the current campus facing the historic district, was intended to be replaced, turned over to the private sector and leased as downtown offices. It was and it is.

“We knew that a private developer would not put in a multi-story office building on that site,” he recalls, “so the idea was to plant a seed for downtown private sector employment.” With the building now occupied by small businesses and two large tenants, hundreds of employees fill downtown sidewalks at lunch.

Now the city wants to leverage land it controls and facilitate development on private land to put more businesses, housing and entertainment into the market. “Our vacancy rates are astoundingly low (downtown),” says Kilgore, “and we have a waitlist of businesses who want to be in the area. We just don’t have the space right now.”

Marketing the Downtown Market

Word of mouth, informal meetings, formal requests for proposal and aggressive marketing by CRE brokers put a spotlight on downtown opportunities. “We’re in a lot of discussions,” says Mackay, “and obviously can’t talk about details while negotiations are ongoing.”

“Using a formal RFP process,” explains Kilgore, “we are bringing city-controlled properties onto the market for public-private development opportunities. Every developer looks at sites differently, but right now we’re seeing financing available for townhomes, apartments and other multifamily or mixed use projects.”

With the ASU Innovation Center – including the recently announced $1M TechShop branch – southeast of city hall and University of Arizona credit courses and executive MBA classes being offered to the north in the Chandler Community Center, housing for students, faculty, and business professionals is needed in the downtown submarket. The city wants to focus on what’s best for the long term. City staff works closely with developers when projects are proposed to mesh city and project objectives.

Kilgore reports that there are 13 prime sites in that submarket. Seven are privately owned and six are city controlled. “(Downtown) is really ripe for more verticality and pedestrian-oriented design,” she says. “Our customers are looking for more entertainment and dining to add to the ‘already-amazing’ mix.”

[...]

[desertpunk]

Elevation Chandler Will Likely Be Demolished

image hosted on flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/64221380@N07/

A victim of Foreclosure and legal battles, Elevation could still be rescued but will likely go to the wrecking ball to clear the site for a new, more viable development.

[desertpunk]

Prologis Begins Work On 486,000 Sq Ft Warehouse

Prologis, a global owner, operator and developer of industrial real estate, today announced that it has begun construction on a 486,241 SF cross-dock facility in Prologis Park Riverside with a target completion date of April 2013.

The building – situated on a 27-acre parcel – represents the first speculative development in Phoenix since 2008.

It is part of a larger 153-acre master planned industrial park where Prologis sold 100 acres to a Fortune 500 retailer that plans to build a 1.2 MSF distribution and fulfillment warehouse on the site.

Prologis is pursuing magnet foreign-trade zone (FTZ) designation for the Park and in support of this has entered into a development agreement with the City of Phoenix.

[desertpunk]

ASU ISTB-4 Building


https://asuresearch.asu.edu/faciliti...uildings/istb4

Interdisciplinary Science and Technology Building 4 is a new and innovative research building on the Tempe campus. The building opened in early May 2012, and is the largest single research building at ASU, at more than 300,000 square feet. Through innovative architecture, the building incorporates various types of laboratory spaces, clean rooms, administrative and office spaces, high bay spaces and a 250-seat auditorium.

ASU Student Recreation Center


http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/...ntown-phoenix/

PHOENIX – A $25 million recreation center expansion funded by student fees advances a collaboration with Arizona State University that has helped rejuvenate downtown, Mayor Greg Stanton said Friday.

“This friendship, this partnership between this great city and this university, is going to continue and go nowhere but up,” Stanton said at a groundbreaking ceremony for the five-story building.

The facility will rise alongside the Lincoln Family Downtown YMCA, which has served as the recreation center for ASU’s Downtown Phoenix Campus. At 62,700 square feet, it will feature a gymnasium, weight room, indoor track, student lounge, bike co-op and rooftop pool along with classroom space.

Certain features, including the classrooms and pool, will be limited to ASU students when the building opens in fall 2013. The new center will connect to the YMCA building on the first floor.

[desertpunk]

The Hub Rising Near ASU Campus in Tempe


http://www.statepress.com/2012/09/12...eks-retailers/

In just two years, Beal | Derkenne Construction (BDC) — the firm founded by Andrew Beal and Michael Derkenne in 2010 — has become a major player in the construction industry leading the way with notable projects throughout the Midwest and Southwest.

Based in Des Moines, Iowa, the company is currently working on nine construction projects and pursuing prospective clients and work, ranging from adaptive reuse redevelopment to high-rise new construction. Project locations include Tempe, where new student housing is being built.

One of BDC’s present projects under construction is a large, ground up 19-story upscale student housing building (The Hub) located across from Arizona State University in Tempe. It is pursuing LEED silver accreditation.

With the Arizona construction market reemerging after several years of virtual standstill, this project is bringing in an estimated 450 jobs during construction from various trades.

“Working on a project like The Hub, as the general contractor is validation of all our hard work and dedication to our company and work ethics,” Beal says.

The Hub is estimated at $40M and a 19-month schedule with the expected completion date of July 2013. The owners of The Hub are also the shared owners of the 11-story student housing project The Vue On Apache in Tempe that both Beal and Derkenne had general contracted under a different company.

[desertpunk]

CyrusOne Completes Steel Framework For Phoenix Data Center


cyrusone.com

Global colocation solutions provider CyrusOne recently put the last steel beam in place at its Chandler site —officially completing the framework for its 1 MSF “Massively Modular” Phoenix data center complex.

In celebration of the incident-free construction of the steel skeleton, ironworkers hosted a traditional “topping out” ceremony to recognize the quality performance. Often associated with bridges and skyscrapers, modern-day steelworkers carry forward the topping-out tradition from more domestic roots in history to recognize the important role their skills play in the pinnacle of a structure first being reached.

The custom of placing a tree on a completed structure arrived stateside with early immigrants to America and celebrated barn-raisings and housewarmings. Carried over from European civilizations, the ceremony originally honored a tree spirit for the use of wood in homes or enlisted the blessing of the forest gods for fertile land and home.

The modern-day ceremony involves signing the final steel beam before it is hoisted in the air accompanied by a tree top. Signing the final beam for CyrusOne’s Phoenix data center complex were the local steelworkers, 250 CyrusOne employees and CyrusOne executives. “It is a proud day for CyrusOne as we bring to life this very special facility. This is perhaps the largest and most innovative purpose-built multitenant datacenter, developed from the ground up, in a decade. This represents a significant step forward in realizing our vision of a CyrusOne western region hub for Fortune 1000 enterprise customers,” said Kevin Timmons, CTO, CyrusOne.

Planned for completion in December, the data center is expected to become the largest of its kind in the country with 110 megawatts of power capacity, delivered from a substation to be built on the property. A highlight of the Chandler topping out ceremony will be the unveiling of the V-shaped roof on the complex, which consists of high sides tapering to a channel down the middle to support the capture of rainwater to repurpose for water management.

http://www.datacenterknowledge.com/a...ar-in-phoenix/