Awards & Accolades
1. ENR Southwest announced the winners of its 2025 Best Projects competition, recognizing excellence in design, construction and safety across the region. This year’s Arizona honorees include:
- ENR Southwest Project of the Year: Mountain Line Downtown Connection Center Brings Mass Timber to Northern Arizona;
- Project of the Year Finalist, Best Project Higher Education/Research: Arizona State University Wilson Hall;
- Project of the Year Finalist; Best Project Manufacturing; Excellence in Safety: Fab 52 (Project Eagle);
- Best Project, Energy/Industrial: Serrano Solar & BESS;
- Award of Merit, Energy/Industrial: Pima DC 1;
- Award of Merit, Government/Public Building: Maricopa County Office of the Medical Examiner;
- Award of Merit, Government/Public Building: Surprise Rescue Oasis;
- Award of Merit, Safety, Airport/Transit: South Central Extension / Downtown Hub;
- Best Project, Healthcare: Sage Memorial Hospital;
- Award of Merit, Healthcare: Phoenix Children’s Hospital Arrowhead Campus;
- Award of Merit, Higher Education/Research: Mayo Clinic Integrated Education and Research Building;
- Best Project, Highway/Bridge: I-15 Virgin River Bridge No. 1;
- Best Project, K-12: Larry C. Kennedy Campus Rebuild;
- Award of Merit, Interior/Tenant Improvement: True Food Kitchen Headquarters;
- Best Project, Landscape/Urban Development: Ashler Hills Park;
- Award of Merit, Landscape/Urban Development: Frontier Family Park;
- Best Project, Office/Retail/Mixed-Use: Esplanade;
- Award of Merit, Manufacturing: Comarch Data Center;
- Best Project, Renovation/Restoration: Grand Hyatt Scottsdale Resort;
- Award of Merit, Renovation/Restoration: Arizona Biltmore Golf Club;
- Best Small Project: HonorHealth Scottsdale Shea Medical Center ICU Renovation;
- Best Project, Residential/Hospitality: The RaRa Room;
- Award of Merit, Residential/Hospitality: Birdsong Phoenix;
- Best Project, Sports/Entertainment: Player 15 Group HQ and Phoenix Mercury Practice Facility;
- Award of Merit, Sustainability: Child Crisis Arizona, Center for Child & Family Wellness, and
- Best Project, Water/Environment: Inner Basin Waterline Restoration.
Groundbreakings
2. Ryan Companies is continuing redevelopment work at Friendship Village Tempe, a 50-acre senior living campus, having begun construction of a five-story, 175.9KSF building. The project, led in partnership with LCS Development, represents the third phase of a six-phase campus renovation. The new structure will include 69 independent living apartments, two guest suites and below-grade parking. Once complete, the community will be managed by LCS. The campus’ full redevelopment is expected to be completed by 2036.
3. NCG Hospitality, in partnership with Porter Brothers Construction and PK Architect, has broken ground on Moxy Glendale, a five-story, 153-room hotel at the NWC of 95th and Maryland avenues. The project, which includes interior design by The Society, is expected to open in summer 2027.
4. The Arizona Department of Transportation has begun construction on a passing lane project on U.S. Highway 70 near Peridot, roughly three miles east of town between mileposts 274 and 276. Work will continue through summer 2026.
5. Rio Mirage Café has broken ground at 10047 S. Estrella Pkwy. in Goodyear’s Estrella community. The two-story restaurant is 9KSF. O’Brien Luxury Designs is the architect, and Desert Build is the general contractor.
Progress Reports
6. The Arizona Department of Transportation opened a new northbound lane on Loop 101 between Shea Blvd. and Princess Drive in Scottsdale, a milestone in the ongoing $108M widening project. The two-year effort, which began in January 2024, is scheduled for completion in early 2026.
7. The Yuma County Assessor’s Office began relocating to the newly constructed Yuma County Administration Building at 197 S. Main St. in Yuma. The move is part of a countywide consolidation effort to house multiple departments, including Administration, Human Resources and Finance, under one roof. All offices are expected to be fully relocated by mid-December.
8. Maricopa Unified School District held a cornerstone ceremony to mark progress on its new K-8 school in the Sorrento neighborhood of Maricopa. District and City officials attended the event, which highlighted ongoing structural work, including rebar installation and concrete slab placement. The project remains on schedule, according to district representatives.
Completions
9. Mark-Taylor Residential has opened three new multifamily communities in the East Valley. Forge Tower, located at 22 N. Robson in Mesa, offers studio, one- and two-bedroom apartments in a renovated high-rise. Honeycutt Run, at 36635 Honeycutt Road in Maricopa, includes one-, two- and three-bedroom units with one-car garages. Woodcrest at Power Ranch, at 4055 S. Ranch House Pkwy. in Gilbert, features one-, two- and three-bedroom townhomes with direct-access garages. All three communities are now leasing.
10. Dominium will hold grand openings Nov. 12 for Estrella Springs and Suncrest Vista in Goodyear. Estrella Springs includes 396 affordable apartment homes for families, and Suncrest Vista offers 261 affordable senior apartments. Both properties are located at 16985 W. Van Buren St.
11. Chicanos Por La Causa completed Ascent on Broadway, a $39.5M affordable housing community at 316 W. Broadway Road in Phoenix. The project includes 161 units ranging from studios to three-bedroom apartments for residents earning 40%–60% of the area median income. H&B Builders was the general contractor and Merge Architectural was the design firm.
12. The Arizona Department of Transportation’s $19M project improving 10 miles ofI-10between Tonopah and Salome Road west of the Phoenix area is complete. Upgrades included pavement replacement, drainage improvements, guardrail and signage upgrades and bridge and culvert repairs. The project began in March 2025 and was finished two months ahead of schedule.
13. Interim repairs on US 60 between Superior and Globe-Miami have been completed by the Arizona Department of Transportation, restoring two lanes of travel after flooding damaged the highway near milepost 241. The $3M emergency project began Oct. 20 following storm damage and was funded through approval by the State Transportation Board.
14. Achen-Gardner Construction completed a job order for the City of Tolleson’s Water, Wastewater, Pipeline, Utility and Infrastructure JOC project. Work included the relocation of 160 LF of 12-inch water line and a meter. The work was completed within the City’s right-of-way to accommodate future Arizona Department of Transportation improvements.
15. The Arizona Department of Transportation wrapped up construction of a roundabout at the intersection of US 191, State Route 75 and State Route 78 in southeastern Arizona. The project replaced a signalized intersection to improve traffic flow and safety, as well as included drainage and signage upgrades.
16. Starting Blocks Preschool has expanded into a new 7.5KSF facility at 4135 W. Opportunity Way in Anthem Commerce Park. The new space provides additional classrooms and updated amenities.
17. The Town of Star Valley completed new amenities and facility upgrades at Ronnie and Diane McDaniel Community Park. ExerPlay served as the playground equipment supplier. The $96K project was funded through multiple sources, including the Gila River Indian Community, APS and the Tonto Apache Tribe.
18. Achen-Gardner Construction installed 19 mosaic medallions along Mill Avenue from University Drive to 2nd Street for the City of Tempe as part of the Downtown Streetscape Improvements – Mill Avenue, Rio Salado Pkwy. to University Drive CMAR project.