Awards & Accolades
1. Wespac Construction, Inc. announced that Rio Yards, a 157KSF office shell at Novus Innovation Corridor in Tempe, was awarded LEED Silver Certification by the USGBC.
2. Mesa’s 28KSF Gateway Library has won a 2024 Library Interior Design Award from the Commercial Interior Design Association and the American Library Association. The library was designed by Richärd Kennedy Architects and White Baux Studio Interior Design.
Groundbreakings
3. American Battery Factory, Inc., a spinoff of Lion Energy, has broken ground in preparation for starting construction this fall on the $1B gigafactory in Tucson. The facility has a power-supply agreement with Tucson Electric Power. The first phase of planning has been completed for the 2MSF facility. Construction is expected to be completed in 2025.
4. The Arizona Department of Transportation began construction on the $106M I-40/US 93 Interchange project in Kingman. The project includes the widening of more than one mile of the I-40 in both directions, adding a merge lane on US 93, widening four bridges on I-40, building of a sound wall and construction of drainage features.
5. KE&G Construction has broken ground on the first phases of the Monarch master planned community in Marana, developing the first two parcels of 287 lots within a 450-acre project. Lennar Homes purchased the lots from developer SBH Marana LP, an affiliate of Sunbelt Holdings. Future lot phases are being prepared for late 2024 and into 2025.
6. Mill Creek Residential broke ground on Modera Chandler, a 345-unit apartment community in Phoenix. Modera will offer one-, two- and three-bedroom units averaging 1005SF. Move-in is expected in early 2026.
7. Trilogy Investment Company, in partnership with Cimbra Partners LLC, broke ground on the $40M Rêve at Encanto West, an 84-unit Build-to-Rent community in Avondale.
8. JLL announced the groundbreaking of Palm Valley Commerce Center, a three-building industrial project totaling nearly 295KSF in Goodyear. Schnitzer Properties is the owner. Willmeng Construction is the general contractor. VLMK Engineering + Design is the architect. Marc Hertzberg, Riley Gilbert and Kelly Royle of JLL are the exclusive leasing brokers for the center.
9. Performance Capital Partners, LLC has started construction of the 108-unit Hampton Inn & Suites hotel located at Roosevelt Commons in Buckeye. Opening is estimated to be September 2025.
10. Vestar announced the development of The Shops at Lake Pleasant, a 90KSF retail center in Peoria. Construction is expected to be completed by spring 2025.
11. The Arizona Department of Transportation announced the start of the $9.8M SR 69 widening project in Prescott. The project includes the construction of curbs and gutters, the installation of new pipe culverts and storm drains, the removal and installation of a traffic signal and the installation of signage and striping. Construction is expected to take nine months to complete.
12. DXD Capital LP announced the groundbreaking of Extra Space Storage, a four-level, 706-unit, 94KSF storage facility in Scottsdale.
13. Porsche Arrowhead held a groundbreaking for its new 60KSF dealership at 833 W. Bell Road in Glendale. The LEED Gold space will have solar for environmental sustainability. Construction is expected to be completed in the first half of 2025.
Progress Reports
14. FCL Builders announced Project Nemo, a 200KSF design/build cold storage facility in Peoria, is on track for completion this fall. Some features of the facility include refrigerated space, -10F to -20F freezer space, a state-of-the-art adiabatic cooling tower and charging stations for future EV trucks.
15. Achen-Gardner Construction recently completed the relocation of the 18-inch storm drain and manholes for the Gravity Sewer Loop 101 Expressway at Princess Drive in Scottsdale. Currently, the installation of a new 36-inch sewer line and 72-inch manholes is underway. The work is expected to be completed in September 2025.
16. Construction for the 61.5KSF Arizona Public Media facility, The Paul & Alice Baker Center for Public Media, is progressing steadily within UA Tech Park at The Bridges in Tucson. Construction broke ground on January 23rd.
17. Harkins Theatres announced the completion of Phase I of the remodel of Harkins Park West 14 Theatre in Peoria. Phase I includes the installation of Ultimate Lounger® seats, a CINÉBAR™, updated and upgraded lobby finishes and a new CINÉXL® theatre. Phase 2 will include the seven remaining auditoriums’ remodeling and is expected to be completed by the end of 2024.
Completions
18. Sundt Construction has completed the $28M renovation of Arizona Biltmore Golf Club in Phoenix. Renovations were done in two phases. Phase I included a new golf shop, member facilities and underground golf cart storage. Phase II included a new restaurant, kitchen, bar, piano lounge, ballroom, private conference room, outdoor patio seating, outdoor event space, water features and fireplaces. JDM Partners is the owner.
19. The Town of Queen Creek announced a ribbon cutting for Mansel Carter Oasis Park’s 13-acre expansion. The expansion offers a pump track, volleyball courts, pickleball courts, additional restrooms and parking and passive green space. J2 Design was the designer. Haydon was the general contractor.
20. The Gila River Police Department celebrated the opening of its new 49KSF facility in Sacaton. Features include a 9.5KSF indoor shooting range and a shade structure covering a pedestrian plaza. Indigenous Design Studio + Architecture was the designer.
21. Banner Health has opened Banner Health Center Raintree, a health facility in Scottsdale. The facility offers acute and chronic condition care, immunizations, medication management, minor in-office procedures, newborn and pediatric care, on-site labs, routine physicals, sinus and respiratory care, exams, and pharmacist support.
22. The City of Mesa announced the opening of a 33KSF police evidence storage facility at 154 N. Robson in Mesa. Willmeng Construction was the general contractor. The facility was funded from the 2019 and 2022 Public Safety Sales Fund Tax and the General Fund.
23. Achen-Gardner Construction has completed the Main Street Wastewater Main Replacement project of 3,600 LF of sewer piping that burst back in April in Florence. Achen-Gardner worked in conjunction with ADOT and the Town of Florence.
24. The nearly 100-year-old 17KSF former Firestone Building has been renovated and opened as a Goodwill in Phoenix. JAG Development and 48 Development Co. were the developers in a joint venture. Motley Design Group is the designer. Irwin Construction Company was the general contractor.
25. The Town of Prescott Valley, along with Danson Construction, held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the newly remodeled Prescott Valley Library. LAST Architects was the architect.