Groundbreakings
1. Prime Data Centers broke ground on the first phase of its $3B, 1.3MSF PHX01data center campus on 66.5 acres in Avondale. The first phase includes three of the five planned 267KSF buildings at the 240-megawatt hyperscale development. The campus will be powered by an on-site 250-megawatt substation and is designed for artificial intelligence and high-performance computing workloads.
2. Empire Group of Companies, through Aspirant Development, recently broke ground on The Whitney, a $170M, 24-story apartment tower. The 328-unit project, with more than 22KSF of ground-floor retail space, is at the SWC of Central Avenue and McDowell Road in Phoenix. Financing for the development includes an $84.7M senior loan from Axos Bank and a $46.5M mezzanine loan from Lionheart Strategic Management and Schroders Capital.
3. Cavco Industries Inc. recently broke ground on a 616KSF, 39-acre manufacturing plant in El Mirage. The facility will produce HUD-code-manufactured and modular single-family homes and is expected to be operational by mid-2027. DLR Group is the design firm. Willmeng Construction is the general contractor, and Rider Levett Bucknall is serving as the construction project manager.
4. Scottsdale Community College and the City of Scottsdale recently broke ground on a new 22KSF Equine Science facility at WestWorld. The project includes equine training space, horse stalls and support facilities for the college’s program. Construction is expected to finish by summer 2026 in time for fall semester classes.
Progress Reports
5. Tempo by Hilton Tucson Uptown recently celebrated its topping out milestone at the Uptown redevelopment near West Ina Road and North La Cholla Blvd. in Tucson. The five-story, 144-room hotel is expected to open in early 2027.
6. Restoration work is underway on Peoria’s historic Central School building, which is being converted into the Arts and Culture Center. The project began on April 13 and is expected to continue through October, with plans to open the facility during the Second Saturday Peoria Holiday Festival in December. Renovations include structural upgrades, roof repairs and the addition of an annex with public restrooms, office space and storage.
7. George Oliver’s Bond office redevelopment at 3200 E. Camelback Road in Phoenix is now 98% committed following more than 137KSF of leasing activity. Recent leases include Banner Health, which expanded its headquarters lease to 80KSF, and RSM US LLP, which leased approximately 25KSF. The developer is also building two new spec suites totaling 9KSF.
Completions
8. Green Valley II Apartments at 501 W. Wilson Court in Payson recently celebrated its grand opening. The affordable housing development includes 40 one-, two- and three-bedroom units. Construction began last fall and was completed ahead of schedule and under budget.
9. Primak Construction Group completed a phased expansion and partial remodel of an automotive corrosion testing facility on a vehicle testing campus in Stanfield. The project included ground-up construction and renovations completed while the facility remained operational. John Helmut was the architect, and Pearson Engineering provided engineering services.
10. Trader Joe’s is opening a new 12.7KSF midtown Tucson store at Broadway Blvd. and Plumer Avenue on May 29. The project renovated a former Dollar Tree space and marks the company’s first new Tucson location in more than 20 years. Rio Nuevo supported the redevelopment.
11. The Town of Pima recently completed renovations at Pima Pool at 309 S. 100 East. Improvements included a resurfaced pool deck, new shade structures, restroom roof replacements and a new solar panel system. The $85K deck project was partially funded by a $64K grant from Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc.