Awards & Accolades
1. Achen-Gardner Construction was awarded a Build Arizona Award from the Arizona Chapter Associated General Contractors of America. Achen-Gardner received the award for its PVC-Lined Concrete Sewer Pipe and Manhole Rehabilitation North CMAR project in Phoenix.
Groundbreakings
2. The Arizona Department of Transportation announced work has begun on a widening project for U.S. Highway 93. The entire long-term project will see the road link between Las Vegas and Phoenix. The $81M portion of the project will widen four miles of U.S. 93 between Wikieup and Interstate 40. Work is expected to finish in 2027.
3. The joint venture between Ryan Companies US, Inc. and Alidade Capital, LLC announced work has begun on Chandler Freeways Business Park. The development consists of converting a former office building into an 87.6KSF industrial property and the construction of a brand new 102.9KSF industrial building. The park is located just southeast of Loop 202 and Interstate 10. Butler Design Group is the design firm attached to the project, while Ryan oversees construction. CBRE’s Mark Krison, Luke Krison and Armand Doost are marketing and leasing the property.
4. Construction is officially underway on a new four-story parking garage at the HonorHealth Scottsdale Shea Medical Center campus. Clayco has been selected as the general contractor. The garage will initially include 466 parking spaces and is designed to accommodate potential expansion. The project also includes a pedestrian plaza between the garage and the existing medical center. The design is led by Lamar Johnson Collaborative, with collectiV Landscape Architects handling landscape design. Dibble is the civil engineer. DHE is the mechanical, plumbing and electrical contractor, while PKA is serving as the structural engineer. Completion is expected in Q4 of this year.
5. On Feb. 3, construction began on solar panel canopies for the Mesa Main Library at 64 E. First St. The solar panel canopies will offer shade for parked cars while generating energy. Construction will proceed through March. The solar panel canopies are a part of Mesa’s goal to install more than 2,000 kilowatts of solar panels downtown.
Progress Reports
6. Trains crossed the Salt River Bridge for the first time as a result of progress on the South Central light rail extension in Phoenix. The extension will connect downtown to south Phoenix. The extension has completed two of its more than five-mile goal and is expected to open around midyear.
7. Willmeng Construction began vertical construction on Mack Real Estate Group’s 305.4KSF first phase of Mack Innovation Park in Scottsdale. The entire site accommodates 1.2MSF across 11 buildings, with proximity to Pima and Bell roads and Loop 101. Bank OZK provided $43M of first mortgage construction debt, and PGIM Real Estate provided $19.8M of construction mezzanine financing. Lenga Partners is Mack’s equity joint venture partner in the project. Butler Design Group is the design firm.
8. The Mount Graham Regional Medical Center held a breakfast and tour of its 36KSF Medical Office Complex in the Gila Valley. BFL Construction Companies is currently constructing the complex. The new complex is to be located next to the company’s 25KSF Copper Mountain Clinic. The opening of the new medical facility is expected in August. The project originally broke ground in November 2023.
9. Achen-Gardner Construction announced it installed more than 180LF of 36-inch gravity sewer pipe. Achen-Gardner used a jack and bore to install the pipe under the sixth-hole tee box across the northern portion of the TPC Champions Course in Scottsdale. This was a part of the company’s Gravity Sewer – TPC Golf Course to the North Pumpback Station CMAR project.
10. Achen-Gardner Construction announced it is currently excavating retention basins and grading roadway lanes for its Cactus Road (BNSF Railroad Crossing to Litchfield Road) CMAR project in Surprise. Once completed, the project will widen the roadway and strengthen its capacity, safety and functionality.
11. The $18M renovation project at the Hotel Valley Ho in Scottsdale has completed updates to the hotel’s original wings, including updating lighting and décor and cabana rooms with extended patios. The two remaining wings, including executive suites, are scheduled for renovations over the summer.
12. Sigma Southwest is constructing a Brakes Plus at the NWC of Florence Blvd. and North Peart Road in Casa Grande. The new-to-market auto repair and maintenance facility will total nearly 5KSF. It is expected to be completed in July.
Completions
13. Meta announced two buildings in its Mesa Data Center at 3841 Ellsworth Roadare now online. Construction on the remaining phases of the data center will continue over the next few years. The next phase is expected to open in 2026.
14. Phoenix Design One Inc. announced the completion of its renovations to the Terra Verde office complex at 16767 N. Perimeter Drive. Renovations included a new gym, locker rooms with showers, a food station and improved gathering spaces. True North Builders was the general contractor. Chris Walker, Mike Beall and Jeff Wentworth of Cushman & Wakefield are the leasing brokers for the 182.3KSF property.
15. Exalt Health announced the opening of its new facility at One Scottsdale Medical north of Loop 101 at Scottsdale Road. The office encompasses 50KSF on the second floor of the building and can accommodate 48 hospital beds.
16. Frye Elementary School students and staff gathered to celebrate the grand reopening of the school’s newly renovated HUB Media Center with an official ribbon cutting ceremony. This renovation is part of Chandler Unified School District’s Reimagination Project, an initiative aimed at modernizing learning spaces across the district’s elementary campuses. The new space, built by Concord General Contracting and designed by BWS Architects, aims to foster collaboration, encourage hands-on learning and provide students with the tools they need to become future leaders.
17. Gilbert Public Schools announced the completion of Desert Ridge Junior High School’s new Multimedia Center. The center is equipped with technology that will aid students in learning about 3D modeling, 2D/3D animation software, videography, music composition and video game design.
18. The Maricopa County Department of Transportation completed the Gilbert Road Bridge between Mesa and State Route 87 and has opened the entire bridge to travel. The project delivered two lanes in each direction on the bridge, a new traffic signal at the Thomas Road intersection with Gilbert Road, and new roads connecting the bridge to State Route 87 and Mesa. The project also featured the installation of a new storm drain and a new 36-inch waterline as part of SRP’s water delivery system.
19. The Recreation & Aquatic Center at Frontier Family Park in Queen Creek will officially open on March 29. The expansion consists of indoor ball courts, water slides and community spaces. Queen Creek is actively searching for more locations for parks and recreation developments.
20. The addition of a self-storage facility in the Burgbacher Building in Phoenix has concluded. The 40KSF self-storage facility consists of 426 storage units. The basement of the building previously held a call center. Plaza Companies and Holualoa Companies are in an ongoing joint venture to redevelop the Park Central space that houses the Burgbacher Building.