Arizona Projects 11-13-20

Groundbreakings 
1. Tucson International Airport is undergoing a $300M remodel for the first time in 60 years. The project is primarily to modernize and configure the runways to make flying in and out much safer. Included will be construction of a new full-length commercial runway. It will take about five years to complete the project and is expected to support 1,000 jobs. 
2. The Arizona Department of Transportation will begin work to replace the Rio de Flag bridge along Historic Route 66 near Flagstaff City Hall. The work will involve the use of precast bridge components to significantly reduce the amount of traffic restrictions during the project. The $4.9M project is anticipated to be completed by summer 2021. 
3. Hines announced that it has closed financing with Alliance Bank of Arizona and is set to begin construction on its new 325-unit, 318KSF luxury multifamily property at the NWC of Happy Valley Road and 35th Avenue, Phoenix. Dekker/Perich/Sabatini is the architect and Modern Constructors is the general contractor. 
4. Local dignitaries and Cindy McCain gathered at the site of the Buckeye Elementary School District’s newest school on Wednesday morning to celebrate the official groundbreaking for its 9th school, John S. McCain III Elementary. His state-of-the-art school has been designed by the Orcutt Winslow Architecture Firm and is being constructed by the Chasse Building Team. It is scheduled to open to students in August of 2021. 
5. Northpointe at Vistancia, located within the 7,100-acre Vistancia master plan in north Peoria, has broken ground on a 10-acre amenity site that includes a 5.3KSF recreation center called The Sovita Club, centrally located in the first phase of Vistancia’s finale community. The project is expected to be complete in 2021. 
Progress Reports 
6. The Master Planned Community of Rocking K, in the Vail School District, is continuing toward its Grand Opening and soon the first residents can call this beautiful setting in the foothills of the Rincon Mountains home. Model homes and the first new homes for purchase within Rocking K are anticipated to be available in early 2021. 
7. Construction continues for Abrazo Health’s new small-scale, 35KSF community hospital near the intersection of Carefree Highway and Cave Creek Road. Abrazo Cave Creek Hospital is planned to open in mid-2021 and offer emergency and surgical services. 
8. The first building housing University of Arizona operations is finally going up at The Bridges development on Tucson’s south side, with steel girders reaching to the sky. The Boyer Co. will build and own the four-story 120KSF building, dubbed The Refinery, at a current projected cost of about $30M, and when it is completed late next summer, the UA will lease half that space for Tech Launch Arizona and other growing technology enterprises. 
9. On November 9th, Town of Prescott Valley officials stated that they are closer to finishing the town’s extensive Viewpoint Drive Connector project. Throughout November, crews will be finishing underground utility work in the Manley intersection, officials added, and crews will begin establishing the reconfigured intersection in that area. The reconfigured intersection area is on track to open early in 2021. 
Completions 
10. The HUB, a Capital Hall Partners redevelopment project, was completed October 2020 and is ready for tenants. After fifteen months of planning, design, engineering, and construction, the once functionally obsolete 1960’s industrial warehouse building has been completely reconstructed into a 50.3KSF modern, versatile, healthy, and sustainable office building. Gensler was the design firm and Kennedy Design Build was the general contractor. 
11. The Sun Lakes Community in Sun Lakes wanted to refresh the Cottonwood Bar & Grill, 25630 S. Brentwood Drive, with a new look and feel that made the establishment more appealing to members as well as its guests. KatzDesignGroup moved the beverage and condiment serving station to the unused area of the bar, created a new permanent buffet and created more flexible areas for gathering in the bar dining area. The project team comprised Michael Hall Architect, Maven Engineering and Farnsworth Construction. Notable subcontractors included LionCraft. 
12. The demolition of an old medical complex next to St. Mary’s Hospital is unveiling a new pavilion with updated clinical space at 1707 W. St. Mary Road, Tucson. The new St. Mary’s Medical Pavilion is a two-story, 55KSF development of PMB LLC. Demolition of the old structure is expected to be complete within a week and the area will be converted to a parking lot. 
13. Hunkapi Programs, an equine therapy farm in Scottsdale, finished construction on a new arena to be used for the farm’s signature therapeutic riding sessions. The covered, steel riding arena was engineered and designed by Bunger Steel and erected by Arizona Steel. The arena also includes a 25-foot covered viewing area for parents and visitors. The project has been overseen by General Contractor Coffman Barns.