Awards & Accolades
1. Four students from the East Valley Institute of Technology’s welding program participated in a “topping out” ceremony at SteelFab Inc. in Chandler. The “topping out” ceremony was for Arizona’s first American Institute of Steel Construction Tree teaching sculpture. The sculpture was constructed by EVIT students using steel provided by SteelFab. Following tradition, the beam was signed and raised with a Christmas tree and an American flag attached. The structure showcases every type of structural connection used in buildings and will be used as a long-term training tool.
Groundbreakings
2. Renovations on the block the Pratt-Gilbert building in downtown Phoenix sits on will begin later this month. Aardex Corp. is working on the renovation of the 100-year-old building and overseeing the construction of a 14-story apartment building next door. Renovations on the Pratt-Gilbert building are expected to be completed in August by Willmeng Construction, and the apartment building, which will contain 262 apartments and 20KSF of retail space, is expected to be finished approximately mid-2026 by Clayco. The project will also widen the sidewalk on Central Avenue and repave the alleyway between the Pratt-Gilbert building and the future multifamily building. Aardex originally bought the 1.1 acres for $8.7M.
3. Pima Community College in Tucson is demolishing three historic hotels: the Tucson Inn, Frontier Motel and Copper Cactus Inn, which are more than 50 years old. The buildings are adjacent to the college’s downtown campus and will be replaced with student housing. The buildings were purchased by the college between 2018 and 2019 for $3.5M, and the search for potential developers began in mid-2024.
4. Wastewater infrastructure improvements in Tempe just began and will continue until mid-September. The improvements will occur between 48th Street and Roosevelt. Traffic will be affected 24 hours a day during the five-month rehabilitation process.
Progress Reports
5. The $1.3B South Central Extension/Downtown Hub light rail project has an official opening date of June 7. The Valley Metro project will operate along Central and 1st avenues to Baseline Road in south Phoenix. A two-line rail system that connects at a new transit hub will open as part of the expansion. Eight new stations, 14 new trains, a park-and-ride facility at Baseline Road and Central Avenue, updated bike lanes and utility upgrades are additional features of the project.
6. Construction is still underway on Soleo, which broke ground last August. Soleo is a future Tri Pointe Homes community in San Tan Valley. The community will span 252 acres and have 1,435 homes. Home prices will begin in the mid-$400Ks. Soleo will also include Grand Park, a 15-acre park with a two-acre lake, three fitness loops, 13 smaller parks and a central pavilion with swimming pools. The homes will be located along Combs and Kenworthy Roads.
7. Sonita, a 187-unit Build-to-Rent community in Goodyear by 29th Street Developments, is expected to be completed by October. Sonita is next to Origin Apartments, another 29th Street development. 29th Street is also working in Apache Junction on Verge, another Build-to-Rent community with 201 units, which is expected to release its first building in July.
Completions
8. City of Hope and Ryan Companies US, Inc. have opened a new City of Hope facility at One Scottsdale Medical, a Class-A, multitenant, 101.1KSF medical building located in One Scottsdale, a 120-acre mixed-use development. The cancer research and care facility is approximately 30KSF and is on the first floor of One Scottsdale Medical. The larger One Scottsdale is being spearheaded by DMB Associates, Inc., and One Scottsdale Medical is a partnership between DMB Associates, its partners and Ryan Companies.
9. Main Street Commons, a new downtown park in Lake Havasu City, is set to open this week ahead of the city’s Desert Storm boating event on April 23. Construction began in June 2024, with initial site grading handled by the City before the contractor began work. The project is more than 90% funded through grants. A second phase with additional amenities, including restrooms, a concession stand and shade canopies, is planned for completion by next September and currently has $250K in funding.