AZRE July/August 2024

SHOUTOUTS

Greenlight Communities hits $100,000 in charitable giving

Valley-based Greenlight Communities has made it their mission to become the first privately funded real estate developer to focus solely on providing attainable rental housing to communities across Arizona.

Greenlight Communities’ mission is taken a step further through their Greenlight Gives initiative, showing their commitment to community engagement, as they actively support charitable organizations in Arizona with the goal of ending homelessness.

Greenlight Communities is excited to announce a partnership with Save the Family Foundation Arizona for its most recent Greenlight Gives Initiative.

Save the Family is one of many organizations that has felt the helping hand of Greenlight Communities, which donated $3,000 and over $1,000 in in-kind donations to the non-profit organization this month, sponsoring a “Making a House a Home” drive to collect essential items for move-in kits. These kits are crucial to this contain essential items such as kitchen utensils, bedding and toiletries, offering a foundation for families to start anew.

To date Greenlight Communities has given over $100,000 since starting its Greenlight Gives initiative in recent years.

Sundt Foundation awards $300,000 in special grant cycle

The Sundt Foundation, the charitable giving arm of Sundt Construction, invited nonprofit organizations to apply for a special grant cycle to celebrate the Foundation’s 25th anniversary. Later this summer, the Foundation will award 12 organizations across its giving areas with $25,000 each, totaling $300,000.

“It’s exciting to celebrate the legacy of the Foundation with this round of special giving,” said Emily Dwosh, Sundt Foundation Executive Director and Sundt Community Relations Manager. “This will extend the impact of the Sundt Foundation, giving back even more to the nonprofit partners making an incredible impact in the communities where we live and work.”

President and CEO: Michael Atkinson

Publisher: Amy Lindsey

EDITORIAL

Editor in chief: Michael Gossie

Associate editor: Kyle Backer

Staff writer: Devyn Williams

Contributing writer: Alison Bailin Batz

Intern: Madeline Bates

ART

Creative services manager: Bruce Andersen

Chief photographer: Mike Mertes

Graphic designer: Lauren Laird

MARKETING/EVENTS

Marketing and events director: Kari Van Winkle

Marketing and events intern: Emily Armstrong

OFFICE

Special projects manager: Sara Fregapane

Advertising and events coordinator: Tarina Lovegrove

Database solutions manager: Amanda Bruno

Office administrator: Michelle Zesati

AZRE | PTK

Director of sales: Ann McSherry

AZ BUSINESS MAGAZINE

Senior account executive: April Rice

Account executives: Maria Hansen | Ruth Hickey

AZ BUSINESS ANGELS

AZ BUSINESS LEADERS

Director of sales: Sheri Brown

EXPERIENCE ARIZONA | PLAY BALL

Director of sales: David Harken

RANKING ARIZONA

Director of sales: Sheri King

AZRE: Arizona Commercial Real Estate is published bi-monthly by AZ BIG Media, 3101 N. Central Ave., Suite 1070, Phoenix, Arizona 85012, (602)277-6045. The publisher accepts no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts, photographs or artwork. Submissions will not be returned unless accompanied by a SASE. Single copy price $3.95. Bulk rates available. ©2023 by AZ BIG Media. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from AZ BIG Media.

TRENDSETTERS

MARK-TAYLOR COMPANIES BRANCHES OUT TO HELP OTHERS BUILD COMMUNITIES

By MICHAEL GOSSIE

Mark-Taylor Companies has built a stellar reputation in Arizona not only as a multifamily builder and developer, but as an incredible place to work.

“The multifamily housing industry in Arizona is such a booming industry where you’re genuinely making a positive impact on people’s lives,” says Alison Sallitt, director of consulting and communications at Mark-Taylor. “Our workplace culture is really connected and familial, but also offers growth opportunities.”

And one way Mark-Taylor sees potential for growth is by sharing its vast industry knowledge through consulting.

AZRE: What prompted the expansion into the consulting space?

Alison Sallitt: Mark-Taylor has been in this space for nearly 40 years in Arizona. We’ve accumulated so much historical knowledge and data that clients have been asking to bring us into the process from Day 1, when they’re thinking about selecting a site, raising capital and bringing a project from the ground up. They wanted to tie us in. That prompted us to build out a team with the resources and infrastructure to support clients throughout that process and beyond.

AZRE: What consulting services does Mark-Taylor offer?

AS: Our services include pre-development consulting, specialized marketing and lead management, technology, public relations and beyond. More specifically, our predevelopment services offer full financial and operational plans, feasibility analyses, and unit mix and size recommendations. We’re your advisor throughout everything that goes into that process because we’ve been through it as developers and property managers. The cuttingedge marketing, lead management and other capabilities enable you to consolidate services that are tailored to the multifamily industry.

AZRE: How about when the project is complete?

AS: We advise clients no matter when they bring us into the process. It could be to optimize their operations, solve for lead management or generation, or to simply talk strategy in today’s market. Our economic reporting is also available through Multifamily Metrics. It’s in-depth reporting that compares our historical data to what’s going on in the market now. We’ve made a one-stop shop for anyone in the multifamily space.

BRAND BUILDER: Alison Sallitt is director of consulting and communications for MarkTaylor Companies . (Photo by Bruce Andersen, AZRE, a publication of AZ Big Media)

Path to successExperts

offer their best advice for marketinga woman-led commercial

realestatebusiness

By MICHAEL GOSSIE

Marketing a woman-owned business — particularly in the male-dominated world of commercial real estate — involves highlighting the unique perspective, values and expertise that women bring to the table. Emphasizing female leadership, diversity, quality products and services can resonate with customers who prioritize supporting women entrepreneurs. Leveraging social media, community involvement and partnerships can also enhance visibility and attract a diverse customer base. In honor of this being AZRE’s Most Influential Women in Commercial Real Estate issue, we asked the most influential women leaders in CRE marketing to offer advice to other female leaders.

in 2024

DANIELLE FEROLETO, president, Small Giants:

“Women have a natural talent for communication and I would encourage them to leverage this with inperson presentations, speaking opportunities and creating circles of influence in their respective industries. I do believe women have every opportunity to be heard and stand out as leaders; the power is in creating the meaningful moments. It will deliver results and build your confidence.”

LEADER: Danielle Feroleto founded Small Giants in 2006. The firm’s foundation of exclusively serving the CRE and AEC industries was borne out of her background in commercial construction in several capacities. (Provided photo)

Patty Johnson, owner and founder, Connections Marketing & Communications: “Relationships matter. Find ways to establish and develop relationships with other professionals who can mentor you, support and promote you, and provide honest feedback. Getting involved with industry trade groups, women’s business and social groups or civic/charitable groups are excellent ways to grow your network. Engaging on a committee or in a leadership position with an organization can help you to get to know others, how they work and what their strengths are, and find people who can become trusted counselors and true friends.”

Melissa A. Swader, president and CEO, Ruby Red Media: “Marketing oneself as a woman business leader requires a strategic blend of authenticity, leveraging technology and building strong networks. In today’s business climate, you must embrace storytelling online to convey your brand visibility. By creating visually engaging content on social media, you can showcase your expertise, company culture and share your overall success stories. Public visibility can also position you for future collaboration projects, such as media contributions, guest podcast appearances or other direct speaking events.”

INDUSTRY

Thursday, August 22

5:00-8:30 p.m.

Chateau Luxe | 1175 E. Lone Cactus Drive Phoenix, AZ 85024

Get in front of a VIP audience! Contact Amy Lindsey at amy.lindsey@azbigmedia.com or 602-277-6045 for event sponsorship opportunities. AT ONE OF THE MOST EXCITING EVENTS OF THE YEAR!

TICKETS ON SALE MID-JUNE AT: azbigmedia.com/awards-events/ 2024-most-influential-women-in-arizona-miw-awards/

TRENDSETTERS

By KYLE BACKER

Located on an easy-to-miss campus that blends in with the desert landscape, Scottsdale Water’s Advanced Water Treatment Facility (AWT) is a modern marvel. For more than 30 years, the AWT has been performing indirect potable reuse by recharging ultra-purified water into the aquifer. This is done through a rigorous multistep process in which the facility takes recycled water from the city’s conventional water reclamation plant and treats it further through ozonation, membrane ultrafiltration, reverse osmosis and ultraviolet photolysis.

Five years ago, the City of Scottsdale received the state’s first permit for direct consumption of advanced purified recycled water (APRW). Currently, Scottsdale is not sending APRW into the drinking water system, but members of the public can tour the AWT to see the purification process, with the chance to sample APRW. During the city’s annual Canal Convergence event, local brewers offer beers that have been brewed using APRW to highlight the quality of the water.

As the Valley continues to expand, securing additional water resources will remain a top priority. Producing APRW can be part of the portfolio strategy needed for continued growth in the desert.

PROCESS OF ELIMINATION:

These jars of water show the stages of purification from raw reclaimed water through ultraviolet photolysis.

FILTRATION STATION:

After initially going through a series of strainers, the recycled water passes through these ultrafiltration membranes with fibers thinner than a strand of hair to further remove materials. There are 4,442 ultrafiltration cartridges the water is pushed through before reaching the next step.

REVERSE OSMOSIS: Once the materials have been removed from the water, it then goes through reverse osmosis, which forces the water through a semipermeable membrane that only allows water molecules to pass through at nearly 135 psi. Once it has passed through these cartridges, the water is subjected to ultraviolet photolysis which is the final step for disinfection process.

SAFE TO DRINK: At the end of a tour of Scottsdale Water’s Advanced Water Treatment Facility, visitors can sample APRW. The water is so pure in fact that the facility adds minerals back in for taste.

All photos by Kyle Backer.

Multifamily first

By DEVYN WILLIAMS

John Carlson started as a leasing consultant for Mark-Taylor in 2002 after looking to move into the San Cervantes apartments. He had launched a career in engineering, but found his true passion within real estate. He climbed the ladder at MarkTaylor Companies, became president of the company in 2016 and has helped guide the company to massive success ever since.

Mark-Taylor has been Ranking Arizona’s No. 1 property management and development firm for 13 years in a row and continues to add to its 50,000 residents. Mark-Taylor seeks “to create exceptional communities that invite, inspire and feel like home.” As Carlson says, “Our people are the difference.”

AZRE sat down with Carlson to learn more about his career path and trends to watch in the multifamily sector.

AZRE: How did you end up as president of Mark-Taylor?

John Carlson: I was told this often by friends and family: “In anything that you do, do what you are passionate about.” I used to be passionate about being an NFL football player or an NBA

John Carlson did a career shift and has helped Mark-Taylor become a shining light in its real estate sector

basketball player, but I am 5'10" and not athletic enough. I think you must tie what you are passionate about to something you are capable of doing. That does not mean I was ready to be president in 2005 or even 2010. But when I started with the organization, I really sunk my teeth into being an expert in real estate. Fast forward to 2016, I believe my passion for our people and culture aligned with what the organization has always prioritized. I had great mentorship from the founders and their core principles. I have worked with 150-200 different third-party experts in real estate. That has accelerated my learning curve and prepared me for where I am today.

AZRE: What are you most proud of as president of the company?

JC: I am most proud of our culture, our people and our brand. We have spent thousands of hours trying to push a positive and unique brand. To do so, you must be diligent and thoughtful. You need decades of constant input that supports the message. You’ve heard the phrase, “It takes a lifetime to build a brand and

five minutes to tear it down.” Repeating that over and over again has helped us achieve significant success. When I look back on the evolution of Mark-Taylor, it is truly all about the people. It is important that you create a vision that they can buy into and know what the company is trying to achieve. If they are connected to an organization, they will be supported and given the tools to be successful. If you have read the book “The Infinite Game” by Simon Sinek, he talks a lot about focusing on the things that matter to you as an organization. I shine my lens on people first.

AZRE: What steps can we take to be better and apply that to everyday life to achieve success?

JC: Comparison is the thief of joy. When I was starting out, I made a lot of comparisons to other companies, other folks at my level and this is usually not a useful tool. That is why “be better than yesterday” is my personal mantra. Our job as human beings is to compare ourselves to yesterday and use that to push ourselves to grow. To follow this, you need to have the right attitude and push yourself to grow and the rest will

follow. It is not about being a star in the moment, it is about what goes on behind the scenes. Great athletes, for example, are consistently grinding with work ethic and determination. It’s not just about what you want, it’s about what you’re willing to do to get it. If I empower my staff the right way, I will have the multiplier effect and they will be great leaders too. Through coaching and mentorship, you will become a true superstar.

AZRE: You talk about how renters should feel connected to their homes. How do you achieve that and what makes Mark-Taylor stand out from the rest?

JC: We are Class A only by design, so our mission statement is to create exceptional communities that invite, inspire and feel like home. I consider the human element to be the first step in offering great amenities, as well as cleanliness that brings a wow factor to a community. It is also about the fivestar experience. A lot of people focus on creating a five-star experience for the customers. But if you do not create that for your employees, it will never translate. This goes back to the lens of “people first” because we make them feel like family and that will translate to residents. We are not perfect, but we try to get better than yesterday.

AZRE: Where does Arizona stand right now in terms of being in a housing crisis?

JC: It goes back to supply and demand. The more supply you have, the more affordable your home will be. It is a basic economic function. From 2018-2022, rents were higher because we were supply constrained, but we have built up a lot of inventory in terms of construction and new deliveries. We will deliver about 21,000 units, which is more than we ever have since 1986. In today’s market, rents are down about 4.8% through the end of March because there are more units. Renters have more options and more concessions, so if anyone wants more affordability, we need to create more housing. Rents will continue to soften for the next year or two because we are cresting through 2025, until we will see them start to dip off in 2026.

LEADING THE WAY: John Carlson is the president of Mark-Taylor, the leading developer, owner and investment manager of Arizona’s premier rental communities. (AZ Big Media file photo)

MULTIFAMILY INSIGHTS

Mark-Taylor Companies, a leading luxury multifamily developer, owner, manager and consultant in Arizona and Nevada, launched Season 2 of the Multifamily Forward podcast earlier this year. As the economic landscape continues to evolve, Multifamily Forward discusses expert insights and strategies essential for navigating today’s dynamic multifamily and real estate market. Presented by Mark-Taylor Consulting, each episode of this season features exclusive interviews with industry experts, guiding viewers toward making smart investments in today’s market. Listen to Multifamily Forward on your favorite podcast platform.

AFTER HOURS

CREATIVE CARPENTRY

How an engineer turned his woodworking hobby into a thriving business

By ALISON BAILIN BATZ

Certainly, many construction professionals get into the business because they like to work with their hands, but engineer and entrepreneur Jarod Huston is in a league of his own.

While the fourth-generation master carpenter owns several businesses in various construction fields, his passion for woodworking dates back to his early days — tinkering in his grandfather’s workshop. As he grew up, Huston became enamored with the vast range of rare exotic hardwoods. This fascination inspired him to scour the globe in search of the most beautiful species, accumulating a massive collection of hand-picked exotic wood. In 2021, he merged his hobby and his business to open Indivisible Hardwoods + Creative Customs.

“For years, my spare time was spent building one-of-a-kind pieces of furniture, always on request by friends or family. But when I no longer had time to spare, I decided to turn my workshop into a small business of its own,” Huston says.

Small no more, due to overwhelming demand by designers and architects in the residential and commercial spaces as well as business owners and homeowners alike, in 2023 Huston invested in a 6,000-square-foot freestanding building in the Scottsdale Airpark to house the growing business, and proceeded to recruit talented, likeminded craftsmen to join his team.

As a result, today Indivisible Hardwoods and its ever-growing roster of experienced carpenters are creating and scaling projects of all sizes and for all budgets.

“Our clients commission a wide variety of furniture, from conference tables to gazebos. They come in with a picture in their mind or something from a magazine, and we walk them through the design process until our rendering matches their vision,” Huston says. “Lately we’ve seen a lot of customers wanting high security concealment furniture to stash valuables in unsuspecting places, which just goes to show, the store really can’t be classified as

RARE FINDS: A passionate woodworker, Jarod Huston has a penchant for exotic hardwoods, which has led him to scour the globe in search of beautiful, hard-to-find specimens for his collection. (Provided photo)

a purveyor of one thing, unless that one thing is creativity.”

Beyond custom fabrication, Indivisible Hardwoods is also a retail destination for professionals and hobbyists. It boasts more than 80 species of exotic hardwoods from around the world and a large selection of high-quality tools and materials.

“The brands we represent are the same ones we use in our shop. Every one of them has proven to be the best tool for the job, which is why customers trust our product endorsements,” Huston says. They have the largest selection of Festool products in Arizona, and are at present the only Woodpecker dealer in the Southwest. Beyond that, Indivisible also carries SawStop, Hardcore Hammers, KNIPEX, Amana, Shaper, Sutherland Welles, Kutzall, Novalk, Anest Iwata, Apollo, Blue Spruce and a host of other premium brands.

“Indivisible is meant to be a place of inspiration for the creative builder, and we want every customer’s vision to become a reality, regardless of its composition,” Huston says.

With this in mind, Huston has been systematically researching a variety of other materials in recent months. As a result, Indivisible has joined forces with SureCrete, a manufacturer of cuttingedge artisan concretes used in a wide range of creative applications.

“This past spring, I toured their manufacturing facility in Florida, and was immediately impressed with their quality control measures, not to mention their continuous product innovation and evolution. It required a significant investment to bring it home with me, but there’s no other brand of artisan concrete I would rather offer my clients,” Huston notes.

The sky is the limit for Huston and Indivisible moving forward.

“Customers can have or build anything their heart desires, as long as they have the right tool — and team — for the job. That is us,” Huston concludes.

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PUTTIN’ ON THE RITZ

The Ritz-Carlton Paradise Valley expects guests and permanent residents by the end of the year

By KYLE BACKER

After years of delays, the Ritz-Carlton Paradise Valley is expected to be completed by the end of 2024, with an official opening date coming soon. The project features 80 villas, 32 estate homes and a resort with 215 rooms. The sold-out villas, which range from 1,700 to 4,800 square feet, are beginning to be occupied by residents. Each space was customized to the specifications of the buyer, making every villa distinct. One of the villas visited during a tour included an indoor/ outdoor shower along with a barbecue area in the backyard, both with stunning views of Camelback Mountain.

“Developing these hyper iconic products are labors of love. They take time and patience,” says John Hearns, senior vice president of global residential operations for Marriot. “One of the reasons it has taken a little longer to get to this moment is that RitzCarlton residences are unique. There are only two in the world.”

The estate homes range from 5,500 to more than 12,000 square feet with pricing starting at $7 million. Like the villas, these homeowners can customize their residence with different configurations, including an option for an

auto showcase gallery to display an exotic vehicle in the lower level of the home.

According to a press release, there will be four different home plans with three different elevation styles that “emphasize modern, prairie and Mediterraneaninspired architecture, designed by Scottsdale-based C.P. Drewett.”

The Ritz-Carlton Paradise Valley is located within the $2 billion masterplanned community The Palmeraie, which spans 122 acres. The project, owned and developed by Five Star Development, includes 160,000 square feet of mixed-use space,

140,000 square feet of office space and 52 Fendi-branded residences.

Five Star Development says in a press release that sustainability is integrated into The Palmeraie’s identity, with design standards such as sunshades and canopies to blunt the effect of direct sunlight on buildings. The developer is also “exploring site renewable energy concepts with rooftop mounted photovoltaics, a solar trellis shade canopy capable of producing half the total energy used in the first phase of The Palmeraie, resulting in substantial energy savings.”

Originally proposed in 2007, the development was paused due to the Great Recession. Plans were revisited in 2015 with construction scheduled to start in 2016 but was pushed back until 2018. The pandemic further stalled the project, but it is slated to open by the end of the year.

World-class oasis

The Ritz-Carlton Paradise Valley resort aims to be one of the finest hotels in Arizona. Steven Szenasi, general manager for the resort, says there is no other property like what is being built in Paradise Valley in the company’s portfolio — which is the reason he says his nearly four years on the job have been “worth the wait.”

There are only 215 rooms across 20 acres, Szenasi explains, meaning there is plenty of space and privacy for guests. 137 of the rooms will be located in one of two casita villages, including the sixbedroom, 7,500-square-foot presidential suite. The remaining 78 rooms will be in the resort’s main building.

One of the highlights of the resort will be a two-story, 16,000-square-foot spa. The building will feature a full salon with six chairs and pedicure and manicure stations. The downstairs area will also include sauna and steam rooms, and a co-ed lounge that opens up to an outdoor private deck.

“We’re going to have 13 treatment rooms that will include a beautiful couple’s room, which will be close to 1,500 square feet,” Szenasi says. “You’ll have all the amenities — Jacuzzis, couple massages and a private balcony.”

The Ritz-Carlton Paradise Valley will also have more than 20,000 square feet of indoor meeting space, including a 10,000-square-foot grand ballroom, 6,000-square-foot ballroom and a smaller ballroom just over 4,000 square

feet. This, combined with the open-air amphitheater, will make the resort a destination for weddings and large galas.

“There is about 80,000 square feet of outdoor meeting space,” Szenasi says.

“We also created a beautiful lawn area specifically for weddings on the other side of the hotel, which will have a 180-degree view of Camelback Mountain.”

The resort will also feature a robust food and beverage program, including a bar servicing the 400-foot-long pool. In March, the Ritz-Carlton Paradise Valley announced the first of three restaurants at the resort — Mott 32, a globally renowned Chinese restaurant.

“We’ve been looking for years to find the top restaurants in the world, and we finally landed on one that fits that,” says Jerry Ayoub, president of Five Star Development. “We want to be an international destination, and Mott 32 has been the No. 1 restaurant in Hong Kong for many years.”

Mott 32 will serve traditional Cantonese dishes with Bejing and Szechuan influence, including a 42-day apple wood roasted Peking duck and barbecue pluma Iberico pork glazed with yellow mountain honey and an expansive dim sum selection. Guests will enjoy poolside and mountain views in the 4,600-square-foot restaurant — with interiors inspired by traditional Chinese aesthetics yet fused with modern elegance — and will include a 4,100-square-foot outdoor patio.

“Scottsdale’s reputation for luxury and discerning tastes aligns perfectly with the Mott 32 experience,” says Malcolm Wood, founder of Mott 32, in a press release. “The Ritz-Carlton Paradise Valley provides an unparalleled canvas for us to showcase the essence of Mott 32 — a blend of tradition, innovation and uncompromising quality.”

John Hearns Steven Szenasi

Malcolm Wood Jerry Ayoub

LUXURY LIFESTYLE: The Ritz-Carlton Paradise Valley features 80 villas, 32 estate homes and a resort with 215 rooms. The resort's pool is more than 400 feet long with pristine mountain views. (Provided rendering)

BIG DEALS

TOP OFFICE DEAL: Columbus Properties acquired 24th at Camelback for $86,100,000 from New York Life Insurance Company. (Provided photo)

24th at Camelback || $86,100,000

LOCATION: 2375 E. CAMELBACK RD., PHOENIX

SIZE: 309,400 SQUARE FEET

BUYER: COLUMBUS PROPERTIES

SELLER: NEW YORK LIFE INSURANCE

BROKER: NEWMARK

MULTIFAMILY

Northsight Corporate Center

$42,250,000

LOCATION: 14400 N. 87TH ST., SCOTTSDALE

SIZE: 133,634 SQUARE FEET

BUYER: VERTICAL VENTURES

SELLER: CIM GROUP

4141 North Scottsdale Road

$26,050,000

LOCATION: 4141 N. SCOTTSDALE RD., SCOTTSDALE

SIZE: 166,231 SQUARE FEET

BUYER: ASCENTRIS

SELLER: PALISADES CAPITAL REALTY ADVISORS TITLE AGENT: THOMAS TITLE & ESCROW

CARTER APARTMENTS: An entity tracing to Kairoi Residential acquired the property for $161,400,000 from an entity tracing to Redwood Capital Group. (Provided photo)

Carter Apartments || $161,400,000

LOCATION: 3300 N. SCOTTSDALE RD., SCOTTSDALE || SIZE: 365-UNIT APARTMENT COMPLEX || BUYER: KAIROI

3200 Central $24,470,000

LOCATION: 3200 N. CENTRAL AVE., PHOENIX

SIZE: 378,071 SQUARE FEET

BUYER: YOUNAN PROPERTIES

SELLER: BRIDGE INVESTMENT GROUP

BROKER: NEWMARK

Executive Center

$14,444,860

LOCATION: 3600 E. UNIVERSITY DR., PHOENIX

SIZE: 140,738 SQUARE FEET

BUYER: DAVID R BAUM

SELLER: LBA REALTY

|| SELLER: REDWOOD CAPITAL GROUP The Scottsdale Grand $117,000,000

LOCATION: 15501 N. DIAL BLVD., SCOTTSDALE

SIZE: 285-UNIT APARTMENT COMPLEX

BUYER: GOODMAN REAL ESTATE

SELLER: OXFORD PROPERTIES GROUP

Terra Vida Apartments $75,505,659

LOCATION: 150 S. ROOSEVELT RD., MESA

SIZE: 384-UNIT APARTMENT COMPLEX

BUYER: BROOKFIELD PROPERTIES

SELLER: STARWOOD PROPERTY TRUST

Aura Central $70,000,000

LOCATION: 3883 N. CENTRAL AVE., PHOENIX

SIZE: 251-UNIT APARTMENT COMPLEX

BUYER: GLOBAL MUTUAL REAL ESTATE

SELLER: TRINSIC RESIDENTIAL GROUP

Hangar at Thunderbird $69,000,000

LOCATION: 15301 N. 57TH AVE., GLENDALE

SIZE: 266-UNIT APARTMENT COMPLEX

BUYER: DECRON PROPERTIES

SELLER: PB BELL COMPANIES

Editor’s note: Here are the biggest deals in Arizona commerical real estate from April 12, 2024, through June 14, 2024, according to data collected by the commercial real estate tracking website Vizzda and AZRE magazine. All images were provided to AZRE.

BIG INDUSTRIAL DEAL: Merit Woolf Logistics Center sold for $73,925,000. (Provided rendering)

Merit Woolf Logistics Center || $73,925,000

LOCATION: 10100 N. 151ST AVE., WADDELL

SIZE: 364,700 SQUARE FEET

BUYER: PACKAGING CORPORATION OF AMERICA

SELLER: MERIT PARTNERS

Compass Datacenters PHX II (Proposed)

$79,302,243

LOCATION: EL MIRAGE ROAD AND PEORIA AVENUE, EL MIRAGE

SIZE: 121.37 ACRES

BUYER: COMPASS DATACENTERS

SELLER: DERMODY PROPERTIES

Thistle Data Center (Proposed)

$77,300,000

LOCATION: 48TH STREET AND CHANDLER BOULEVARD, PHOENIX

SIZE: 397,136 SQUARE FEET IN FOUR BUILDINGS BUYER AND SELLER: MENLO EQUITIES

2250 S. Litchfield Rd.

$67,022,262

LOCATION: 2250 S. LITCHFIELD RD., GOODYEAR

SIZE: 450,619-SQUARE-FOOT DISTRIBUTION CENTER

BUYER: STONELAKE CAPITAL PARTNERS

SELLER: CIM GROUP

BROKER: CUSHMAN & WAKEFIELD

I-10 Buckeye Logistics

$60,100,000

LOCATION: 440 N. 215TH AVE., BUCKEYE

SIZE: 641,906 SQUARE FEET

BUYER: EXETER PROPERTY GROUP / EQT EXETER SELLER: BET INVESTMENTS

RETAIL AND HOSPITALITY

ARIZONA BILTMORE: An entity tracing to UK-based Henderson Park acquired the property for $705,000,000 from an entity tracing to Blackstone. (Provided photo)

Arizona Biltmore || $705,000,000

LOCATION: 2400 E. MISSOURI AVE., PHOENIX || SIZE: 703-UNIT RESORT || BUYER: HENDERSON PARK || SELLER: BLACKSTONE

EoS Fitness

$14,145,833

LOCATION: 1558 S. SIGNAL BUTTE RD., MESA

SIZE: 41,800-SQUARE-FOOT FITNESS CENTER

BUYER: WP CAREY INC.

SELLER: BARCLAY GROUP

EoS Fitness

$14,140,000

LOCATION: 7474 S. 59TH AVE., PHOENIX

SIZE: 41,911-SQUARE-FOOT FITNESS CENTER

BUYER: WP CAREY INC.

SELLER: BARCLAY GROUP

EoS Fitness

$14,000,000

LOCATION: 10160 W. LAKE PLEASANT PKWY., PEORIA

SIZE: 42,000-SQUARE-F OOT FITNESS CENTER

BUYER: RAVI GONDAL

SELLER: BARCLAY GROUP

Horizon Village $15,600,000

LOCATION: 1940 W. INDIAN SCHOOL RD., PHOENIX

SIZE: 112,757-SQUARE-FOOT NEIGHBORHOOD SHOPPING CENTER

BUYER: FIRST NATIONAL REALTY PARTNERS

SELLER: WESTWOOD FINANCIAL CORP.

BROKER: NEWMARK

Copperwing Logistics Center - Lots 7-9

$258,081,239

LOCATION: NORTH DYSART ROAD AND WEST NORTHERN

PARKWAY, EL MIRAGE

SIZE: 282.78 ACRES

BUYER: MICROSOFT CORPORATION

SELLER: DERMODY PROPERTIES

Asante - Units 3.12, 3.11 & 4.11A (39 lots)

$54,247,580

LOCATION: PAT TILLMAN AND ASANTE BOULEVARDS, SURPRISE

SIZE: 39 FINISHED LOTS

BUYER: TAYLOR MORRISON

SELLER: LENNAR HOMES

Laveen Village $46,271,000

LOCATION: LOOP 202 AND WEST ELLIOT ROAD, LAVEEN

SIZE: 97 ACRES

BUYER: SALT RIVER PROJECT

SELLER: LEON CAPITAL GROUP

BROKER: ORION INVESTMENT REAL ESTATE

26.46 acres in Paradise Valley

$42,000,000

LOCATION: TATUM BOULEVARD AND LINCOLN DRIVE, PARADISE VALLEY

SIZE: 26.46 ACRES

BUYER: PV27 LLC

SELLER: NANCY G. TEETS AND HEIDI TEETS

308.68 acres in Maricopa

$29,325,408

LOCATION: NORTH WHITE AND PARKER ROAD AND WEST MARICOPA-CASA GRANDE HIGHWAY, MARICOPA

SIZE: 308.68 ACRES

BUYER: CITY OF MARICOPA

SELLER: EL DORADO HOLDINGS

BREAKING GROUND

MULTIFAMILY

RAMBLER

Developers: LV Collective, Kayne Anderson Real Estate and Pacific Life // General contractor: Layton Construction // Architect: Shepley Bulfinch // Interior design: Variant Collaborative // Location: 1020 E. Apache, Tempe // Size: 552,380-square-foot project will feature 289 apartments // Start date: March 2024 // Completion: Fall 2026

INDUSTRIAL NEXUS COMMERCE CENTER

Developer: Creation

General contractor: LGE Design Build

Architect: LGE Design Build

Location: Southeast corner of Elliot Road and Hardy

Drive, Tempe

Size: 274,000 square feet

Start date: October 2024

Completion: Third quarter of 2025

HOSPITALITY

INTERNATIONAL DARK SKY DISCOVERY CENTER

Developer: International Dark Sky Discovery Center

General contractor: McCarthy Building Companies

Architect: SWABACK Architects + Planners

Location: 13001 N. La Montana Drive, Fountain Hills

Size: 23,000 square feet

Start date: April 2024

Completion: TBA

MULTIFAMILY TUSCANY AT GABRIELLA POINTE

Developer: Frankel Family Trust

General contractor: CHASSE Building Team

Architect: BMA Architecture

Location: 3545 E. Warner Road, Gilbert

Size: 760 units across 39 acres

Start date: April 2024

Completion: Summer 2025

INDUSTRIAL XNRGY CLIMATE SYSTEMS

Developer: The Boyer Company

General contractor: Wespac Construction

Architect: Gensler

Engineers: Dibble Engineering, Caruso Turley Scott and IMEG

Location: Gateway East at Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport, Mesa

Size: 275,000 square feet

Start date: April 2024

Completion: TBA

INDUSTRIAL LEVEL CROSSING PHASE 3

Developers: Silver Creek Development and Hardy World

General contractor: ARCO Construction

Location: 13550 N. Dysart Road, Surprise

Size: Warehouse totaling 150,615 square feet

Start date: April 2024

Completion: Early 2025

MOST INFLUENTIAL WOMEN

THE MOST INFLUENTIAL WOMEN IN COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE

By MICHAEL GOSSIE

Becoming one of AZRE magazine’s Most Influential Women in Commercial Real Estate for 2024 requires a combination of skills, strategies and mindset.

“I attribute my success to oldfashioned hard work, perseverance and a willingness to risk failure,” says Andrea Piering, co-owner and president of Sun State Builders and one of AZRE’s Most Influential Women for 2024.

“When someone says it can’t be done, I don’t let it stop me. After five years at Sun State Builders, I knew I wanted to stay to become a leader in the company.”

For women in commercial real estate, gaining expertise in the field through education, training and experience is crucial. Building a strong network of contacts within the industry and beyond can provide valuable opportunities for mentorship, collaboration and career advancement.

“I’m incredibly dedicated to the business and willing to learn everything

I can to support my team,” says Monica May-Dunn, owner and CEO of Arizona Escrow & Financial Corporation and one of AZRE’s Most Influential Women for 2024. “With the incredible amount of networking that has been done over the past couple of years, we have developed many valuable relationships. Trust and camaraderie fostered through these relationships has enhanced teamwork, communication and problem-solving within our organization.”

For women who aspire to become leaders in commercial real estate, developing strong communication and negotiation skills is essential for navigating the competitive and often male-dominated real estate sector. Confidence, resilience and a proactive approach to challenges can help women in real estate establish their presence and credibility.

“I’ve always embraced opportunities and challenges that came my way, even when they pushed me out

of my comfort zone,” says Mary Veldkamp, senior project manager for Brinkmann Constructors and one of AZRE’s Most Influential Women for 2024. “That nervous excitement helped me develop the skills needed to advance my career. Building lasting relationships has also been important not just for my current project but for creating future opportunities.”

The Most Influential Women in Commercial Real Estate for 2024 agree that mentoring and supporting other women in the industry can also contribute to building a strong community and elevating the representation of women in commercial real estate. By continuously learning, networking, leading by example, and advocating for diversity and inclusion, women can make significant strides towards becoming influential figures in the commercial real estate sector.

Meet the Most Influential Women in Commercial Real Estate for 2024 on the pages that follow.

MOST INFLUENTIAL WOMEN: Sitting, from left: Rumpa Dey, AECOM; and Rachelle Strole, Capital Asset Management. Second row: Julie Cornelius, Lincoln Property Company; Nicole Cuéllar, CG Schmidt; Emily Ganem, Ganem Construction; Monica MayDunn, Arizona Escrow & Financial Corporation; and Taylor Perkins, CHASSE Building Team. Back row: Andrea Piering, Sun State Builders; Mary Veldkamp, Brinkmann Constructors; Jenny Liles, Cresa; and Nicole Solar, Olsson. (Photo by Bruce Andersen, AZRE, a publication of AZ Big Media)

LINDSAY BRUCKAL

PROJECT EXECUTIVE // CLAYCO

Background: Bruckal boasts a stellar record leading multimillion-dollar projects. A master of project management and pre-construction, she thrives on challenges and tackles tasks with flair. With 15 years in construction, she’s led diverse projects across healthcare, education, corporate, industrial and high-rise residential sectors.

Source of pride: “Being a part of the exponential growth the Clayco Phoenix office has experienced since its inception in 2021 has been a huge accomplishment. To have a direct impact on the community where I live, creating jobs, building housing for those who are immigrating here and contributing to the growth of the city has been extremely rewarding. I’m also especially proud of achieving results at work while also raising a baby. That is more fulfilling than anything.”

Surprising fact: “If I wasn’t in construction management, I’d probably be a traveling backup dancer for someone famous. I enjoy taking hip-hop dance classes for fun and love to catch a beat any chance I get.”

LEARN MORE: READ FULL BIOS OF ALL THE MOST INFLUENTIAL WOMEN OF 2024 AT AZBIGMEDIA.COM

Where Equality and Inclusiveness

CLAYCO RISING is the most comprehensive diversity and inclusion program in the industry and is the culmination of 25+ years of creating meaningful opportunity and enduring structural change for our employees, our minority-owned and women-owned business partners, and the communities where we live and work.

Leveraging our vast resources and strong partnerships, we are working toward one core purpose - lifting up others and helping them break through and rise above the barriers of race, income, and gender.

We ask you to join us in helping drive real positive change and to build a safe, equitable, and diverse workplace for all!

NICOLE CUÉLLAR

GENERAL MANAGER // CG Schmidt

Background: Building things has always been a part of Cuéllar’s life. Her childhood hobby of sketching floor plans turned into a passion for building extraordinary facilities and collaborative teams. Cuéllar’s construction experience includes corporate, industrial, educational, government and custom projects from Washington, D.C., to Los Angeles.

Source of pride: “I love helping clients achieve their ‘firsts’ when it comes to projects and helping them through the entire building process. I have helped two corporations build their North American headquarters, two school districts make their first renovations in over 60 years, two non-profits create their dream performing arts facility and a chemical manufacturer build its largest facility in the world.”

Surprising fact: “I grew up in a hardworking Midwestern family. One of my first summer jobs in high school was painting fire hydrants for my hometown’s water utility department. I drove around the city in a big white van full of paint cans painting each one by hand. Who would have ever thought that was a job?”

LEARN MORE: READ FULL BIOS OF ALL THE MOST INFLUENTIAL WOMEN OF 2024 AT AZBIGMEDIA.COM

HOW SUCCESS LOOKS

CG Schmidt is proud to celebrate the achievements of the Most Influential Women in Arizona. Congratulations to all the 2024 honorees.

MOST INFLUENTIAL WOMEN

WENDY COHEN

PRESIDENT AND CEO // Kitchell

Background: With nearly 30 years in the building industry, Cohen leads the Kitchell Corporation, the holding enterprise of four independent operating companies: Kitchell Contractors Inc., Kitchell CEM, Kitchell Development Company and American Refrigeration Supplies.

Key to success: “Go the extra mile, always come prepared and grit.”

Surprising fact: “I have climbed Mount Kilimanjaro (19,341 feet) and I raced in the off-road race the Baja 1000.”

JULIE CORNELIUS

MANAGING DIRECTOR // LINCOLN PROPERTY COMPANY

Background: Cornelius oversees Lincoln’s growing third party property management and leasing platform consisting of approximately 26 million square feet of office and industrial product.

Key to success: “I’ve worked for — and learned from — accomplished women for over half of my career. Thanks to Lincoln, I’m able to implement that wisdom on a daily basis. I’m appreciative of the ways this company champions my goals.”

Surprising fact: “I once killed a rattlesnake with a butcher knife.”

RUMPA DEY

ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT // AECOM

Background: Dey leads AECOM’s Intelligent Transportation System & Emerging Technology Group in Arizona. She has been assisting local transportation agencies as a trusted advisor for more than 16 years by developing out-of-the-box solutions and tackling the ever-evolving mobility and safety issues for the traveling public.

Key to success: “The key to my success is a nice combination of love, care and support from my family, along with the opportunities provided by AECOM.”

JENNY LILES

DIRECTOR OF MARKET OPERATIONS // Cresa

Key to success: “Having the attitude that ‘no’ isn’t the best answer when asked to get something done. For me, the answer is ‘how do I get the job done?’ I want to take on everything and if it’s out of my wheelhouse, I love the challenge of figuring it out.”

Surprising fact: “I went to grade school with Dustin Diamond, better known as Screech on ‘Saved by the Bell.’”

NICOLE SOLAR

BUSINESS CONSULTANT // Olsson

Background: Solar is a market-driven professional with a consistent track record of generating new revenue growth, profits and process improvements. She is recognized as a leader with a mix of strategic, analytical and creative competencies to drive results.

Surprising fact: “A little-known fact about me that would surprise most people is I love fishing. Having the opportunity to be in nature and surround myself with family and friends fosters mindfulness and teaches patience.”

Thanks to Our Partners

Prologis Phoenix would like to thank the brokerage community for their partnership in leasing over 1.6 MIL square feet of best-in-class logistics space in Phoenix last year.

VICKI ETHERTON

PRESIDENT // Landmark Title Assurance Agency

Background: Etherton is an industry veteran that quickly rose from assistant to senior escrow officer focused on commercial clients. In 2013, she was named president of Landmark Title. Under Etherton’s leadership, the company has grown from one office and 11 employees to more than 80 employees with operations in Arizona and Nevada.

Key to success: “First, I attribute my success to the work ethic my parents instilled. I started working as a teenager when I discovered my passion for the industry and determination to strive for excellence. I also couldn’t do what I do without my team. Many have worked with me for decades.”

Surprising fact: “I learned how to drive when I was only 8 years old. My father would take me out on dirt roads near our home in his 1953 4WD Jeep Willys pickup to teach me. By seventh grade, I was fully driving on my own.”

LEARN MORE: READ FULL BIOS OF ALL THE MOST INFLUENTIAL WOMEN OF 2024 AT AZBIGMEDIA.COM

KATHY FOSTER

EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT // Colliers Occupier Services

Background: Foster specializes in global occupier advisory for enterprise clients, including account and portfolio management, technology and strategic consulting. She possesses more than 28 years of in-depth experience and is focused on ensuring Colliers’ Occupier Services enterprise clients receive best-in-class solutions to manage their organizations and portfolios.

Source of pride: “I am most proud of my 2022 success onboarding a global technology client with a CRE portfolio of 760-plus sites, totaling 56 million square feet. This complex undertaking involved building a team, creating processes and developing strategies for global portfolio management. This project launched my career into an exciting global arena.”

Surprising fact: “I am a contemporary dancer, performing on stage well into adulthood and taking classes in recent years with students 30 years younger than me. Two years ago, I participated in a four-day retreat, taking six classes a day ranging from ballet and Broadway to hip-hop and jazz.”

LEARN MORE: READ FULL BIOS OF ALL THE MOST INFLUENTIAL WOMEN OF 2024 AT AZBIGMEDIA.COM

Accelerate your impact.

Share your ideas, talents and experience with the world.

At Colliers, your career is as limitless as your ambition. We are a diverse global network of more than 19,000 enterprising professionals who think big and work collaboratively to provide expert real estate and investment advice to our clients. Let’s chat about how your vision can shape our collective future.

colliers.com/arizona Accelerating success.

MOST INFLUENTIAL WOMEN

EMILY GANEM

EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT // Ganem Construction

Background: With more than five years in the industry, Ganem brings a hands-on, energetic approach to her leadership role. She has been pivotal in steering the company’s strategic direction, fostering a team-oriented culture and enhancing competitiveness in the tough construction market. Deeply connected to the local Phoenix scene, Ganem infuses the workplace with positivity and a drive for innovation.

Key to success: “The foundation of my success hinges on my passion for business and growth, coupled with a

robust, supportive team. Every day, I am driven to enhance my skills as a leader and businesswoman while empowering each team member to achieve their full potential through opportunities for personal and professional growth.”

Source of pride: “I take great pride in my role as executive vice president at Ganem, which allows me to utilize my experiences across multiple business sectors and my academic background in business and marketing. This position challenges me and lets me contribute

significantly to our company’s growth, marking a proud highlight in my career.”

Surprising fact: Unknown to many, Ganem comes from a family deeply rooted in Arizona’s automobile industry. This foundational experience significantly shaped her business perspective and provided essential skills that have been pivotal in her success in the construction sector.

LEARN MORE: READ FULL BIOS OF ALL THE MOST INFLUENTIAL WOMEN OF 2024 AT AZBIGMEDIA.COM

BE

WOMEN

MONICA MAY-DUNN

Background: May-Dunn started her career in 1990 with AEF and over the last 34 years has had a visionary outlook, with decisions that have shaped the company’s trajectory. She successfully acquired the company in 2023, making it 100% woman-owned.

Source of pride: “During the challenging period of the COVID-19 pandemic, my resolute determination and strategic thinking guided AEF through the storm, ensuring both stability and growth. I not only successfully navigated the company through the crisis, but also achieved remarkable milestones in terms of increased transaction volume, enhanced operational efficiency and elevated profitability. Furthermore, I expanded AEF’s service offerings, broadened its corporate footprint and orchestrated the relocation of the company headquarters to a premier location within the Camelback business corridor. As a result, 2023 emerged as the most successful year in the company’s history and I successfully purchased AEF, making it completely 100% female-owned.”

Surprising fact: “I have lived in Yuma for the past 24 years and have commuted to Phoenix every week to spend four days in the office.”

LEARN MORE: READ FULL BIOS OF ALL THE MOST INFLUENTIAL WOMEN OF 2024 AT AZBIGMEDIA.COM

Background: Perkins is director of CHASSE Building Team’s K-12 Business Development team and co-chair of CHASSE’s community giving arm. She serves on the board for the Arizona Association for School Board Officials; Education Foundation for the Buckeye Elementary School District; Nadaburg Unified Elementary School District Foundation; Littleton Education Foundation; CASA Education Foundation; and A4LE.

Source of pride: “Over the past five years alone, we have helped build or re-build dozens of schools across Arizona, including Larry C. Kennedy Elementary School, Geneva Epps Mosely Middle School, Madison Park Middle School, Mountainside High School, Canyon View High School, Mountain View High School, Tolleson Union High School and more. We are quite literally helping build the foundation for Arizona’s future.”

Surprising fact: “I am the proud mother of a 14-year-old daughter. She is a huge reason I do everything I do. I also am a passionate gardener and like to spend most of my free time outside getting my hands dirty and sharing my harvests with friends and family.”

LEARN MORE: READ FULL BIOS OF ALL THE MOST INFLUENTIAL WOMEN OF 2024 AT AZBIGMEDIA.COM

TAYLOR PERKINS

DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT // CHASSE Building Team

MOST INFLUENTIAL WOMEN

ANDREA PIERING

CO-OWNER AND PRESIDENT // Sun State Builders

Background: Piering is an Arizona native that began her career with the company working part-time during college. After earning a degree in biology and chemistry from ASU, she’s spent 25 years managing projects, budgets and developing relationships to foster business growth.

Key to success: “I attribute my success to old-fashioned hard work, perseverance and a willingness to risk failure. When someone says it can’t be done, I don’t let it stop me. After five years at Sun State Builders, I knew I wanted to stay to become a leader in the company.”

Source of pride: “I’m extremely proud that I reached my goal and was named president of Sun State Builders. There aren’t a lot of females in the construction industry at this level. Learning this business is an achievement, but earning the respect of those around me is an accomplishment I’m most proud of.”

Surprising fact: “It took me nine years to learn to wakeboard, but I am still working on snowboarding. Another lesson for me in perseverance.”

LEARN MORE: READ FULL BIOS OF ALL THE MOST INFLUENTIAL WOMEN OF 2024 AT AZBIGMEDIA.COM

Sun State Builders is a leading Arizona general contractor that built its reputation with a focus on excellence. We are an innovative, growth-oriented company represented by a team of seasoned professionals that is proud of our more than 50-year history of success.

RACHELLE STROLE

OWNER AND FOUNDER // Capital Asset Management

Background: Strole, owner of Capital Asset Management, LLC, has a rich background in banking, development and real estate. With her diverse history and experience managing the first FDIC structured sale portfolio holding $700 million in commercial assets, she cofounded CAM in 2008. Strole consults, mentors and advocates for community improvement, balancing family life and philanthropy.

Key to success: “Empathy. I believe, to be successful, you must understand and 'feel' what is happening in the room. You need to understand the motivation, fears and hopes of the people you are working with so you move forward to a common goal. You might even have a bit more fun.”

Source of pride: “Growing Capital Asset Management into a company filled with the best humans I have ever known. Having the opportunity to find these people, put them all in the same offices and watch what they can do each day is pure joy.”

Surprising fact: “I started college as a fine arts major.”

LEARN MORE: READ FULL BIOS OF ALL THE MOST INFLUENTIAL WOMEN OF 2024 AT AZBIGMEDIA.COM

MOST INFLUENTIAL WOMEN

MARY VELDKAMP

SENIOR PROJECT MANAGER // Brinkmann Constructors

Background: Veldkamp is a highly skilled professional with experience managing projects in the multifamily, healthcare, office and industrial sectors. Serving as a mentor to her team, she offers dedicated guidance to ensure project success. Veldkamp received a bachelor’s degree in construction engineering technology from California State Polytechnic University – Pomona.

Key to success: “I’ve always embraced opportunities and challenges that came my way, even when they pushed me out of my comfort zone. That nervous excitement helped me develop the skills needed to advance my career. Building lasting relationships has also been important not just for my current project, but for creating future opportunities.”

Source of pride: “I was recognized for my contributions as one of Constructech Magazine’s 2016 Top 50 Women in Construction and received the Habitat for Humanity Builders Blitz Award in 2019. I am also DBIA certified and completed the first design/build project at Disneyland. The project involved repurposing unused space into areas for staff and guests with a limited footprint and incorporating natural light into a basement area.”

LEARN MORE: READ FULL BIOS OF ALL THE MOST INFLUENTIAL WOMEN OF

WHAT’S ON THE HORIZON?

AZRE Forum will offer a mid-year commercial real estate update and a forecast of what the future holds for Arizona

By KYLE BACKER

Arizona is in an era of rapid growth as multiple megaprojects in the Valley pour billions of dollars into the state — most notably, TSMC’s recent announcement that it will increase its investment in Phoenix yet again, now up to $65 billion. According to Thompson Thrift, during the first quarter of 2024, the Phoenix market had 4.5 million square feet of net absorption, representing a double-digit increase over 2023.

“While national industrial numbers continue to show a cool down after record growth coming out of the

pandemic, Phoenix’s diversified economy, affordability relative to other larger cities in the Southwest and business-friendly regulation have allowed it to remain one of the strongest markets for population and job growth and one of the top-performing industrial markets in the nation,” says Ashlee Boyd, managing partner for Thompson Thrift, in a press release.

While commercial real estate in Arizona is on a hot steak, how long can it last? Are we risking over supply? Will power availability tamp down the ability to deliver projects? Can economic

developers still attract companies despite concerns over water? Can the Valley continue to build enough housing as more people and companies continue to move to Arizona?

“The AZRE Forum, our annual midyear commercial real estate update and forecast, will answer those questions,” says Amy Lindsey, publisher of AZ Big Media, which produces AZRE magazine.

“Our panels of experts represent some of the brightest minds in the industry whose insights will leave you better informed about the most pressing issues in commercial real estate today.”

The AZRE Forum moderators and panelists include (in alphabetical order):

Ryan Abbott, Southwest region president, Clayco

Phil Breidenbach, senior executive vice president, Colliers

Earl Collins, CEO, Cordia

Brian Cousins, senior vice president of commercial real estate, Arizona Bank & Trust

AZRE magazine will host the annual AZRE Forum on Aug. 8, 2024, bringing together Arizona’s most brilliant and informed commercial real estate minds for panel discussions covering all things commercial real estate. To get tickets or to learn more, go to azbigmedia.com and click on Awards & Events.

Jeff Dalton, vice president of pre-construction, FCL Builders

Benjamin Gottlieb, founding partner, Gottlieb Law, PLC

Alex Hancock, senior vice president of national sales & leasing, Howard Hughes

John Orsak, senior vice president, Lincoln

Jennifer Stein, director of economic development services department, City of Peoria

Marti Weinstein, partner, Diversified Partners

AZRE FORUM

RYAN ABBOTT

President, Southwest region, Clayco

BACKGROUND: With more than two decades of experience, Abbott is a modern construction leader, builder, national lecturer and educator on alternative project delivery methods.

He embraces Integrated Project Delivery and Lean concepts, and his talent for understanding complex, highly technical, large-scale projects has been demonstrated on jobs which have collectively netted 57 awards for excellence. Abbott is responsible for managing the regional team and the success of local projects.

INSPIRATION: “Over the last quarter century, I have come to a modest truth. I found that when I focused on the success of our clients, on the success of our community, when I devoted every ounce of energy to solving the challenge of your project, the world would change.”

IMPORTANCE OF AZRE FORUM: “Having direct access to the frontlines of Arizona real estate. In a world of sensational headlines, instantaneous publishing,

single-click purchasing and an exponential rate of change… where do you find your source of truth?”

TREND TO WATCH: “Market cycle amplitude is explosively stretching, at the exact time the cycle period is compressing. To adapt Megginson’s teaching of Darwin: It’s not the most intellectual solution; it’s not the strongest balance sheet; today, it’s the team that is best able to quickly adapt and adjust to the change that moves forward.”

SOURCE OF PRIDE: “Being a part of the evolutionary advancement of the design-build industry with a team that is creating harder working, longer lasting, more technologically advanced sustainable built infrastructure.”

LEARN MORE: claycorp.com

EARL COLLINS CEO, Cordia

BACKGROUND: Collins has served as CEO of Cordia since July 2022. Based in Phoenix, Collins oversees Cordia’s operations from its corporate headquarters, a strategic move

catalyzed by the company’s rebranding post a monumental $1.9 billion acquisition by KKR in October 2022. He brings a wealth of experience to his current position, having worked in various capacities across engineering, construction, operations and maintenance for the power, industrial and renewable energy sectors.

IMPORTANCE OF AZRE FORUM: “The AZRE Forum is a unique opportunity to connect with Arizona’s leading commercial real estate minds and gain insights into the industry’s growth trends. As Arizona’s commercial landscape expands, district energy has the potential to play a major role in ensuring sustainable and efficient development. By attending the AZRE Forum, my hope is that Cordia can be at

the forefront of these discussions and forge key relationships that will shape the future of our industry.”

TREND TO WATCH: “The integration of district energy systems and renewable energy sources is a rising trend to watch in commercial real estate. District energy systems provide reliable and efficient heating and cooling by sharing resources across multiple buildings. When coupled with renewable energy sources like solar or wind power, these systems can significantly reduce a building’s environmental footprint and operating costs. We expect to see growing adoption of these technologies as tenants prioritize sustainability and cost-effectiveness.”

LEARN MORE: cordiaenergy.com

AZRE FORUM

PHIL BREIDENBACH

Senior executive vice president, Colliers

BACKGROUND: Breidenbach specializes in commercial office properties, representing both landlords and tenants. He focuses on life-of-theasset landlord agency, tenant advocacy, corporate solutions, acquisitions and dispositions. Breidenbach has specialized in commercial real estate since joining Colliers in 1984.

IMPORTANCE OF AZRE FORUM:

“Mindshare makes all of us better. We all benefit when our industry’s brightest have a chance to gather, exchange best practices, share ideas and experiences, and opine on the market with their visions about what the future may bring. We’re grateful to AZRE for hosting this program that brings together so many smart people who generously contribute their time and shared wisdom.”

TREND TO WATCH: “As of the time of this writing, nine significant Valley companies are in the process of securing new office space and re-imagining their corporate headquarters. These organizations all seem to share the same driver: Creating an environment that makes their workforce want to come in every day and thrive together. The outcome of these companies’ efforts and their success stories will ‘turbocharge’ the back-to-office trend we are starting to feel. We are excited to see what the next generation of workspaces looks like and what the future brings for the buildings that house corporate America.”

SOURCE OF PRIDE: “Watching our clients and friends prosper, and knowing our team played a part in that prosperity is a real thrill. Nothing can replace the feeling of walking into a company’s new facility for the first time and witnessing expressions on the faces of the executives and the workforce alike — the excitement, the joy and sense of newfound inspiration is really fun to watch. It is like having a front row seat to Christmas morning.”

LEARN MORE: colliers.com

To do more than build. To create. To innovate. And to do it with a holistic, intelligent balance of art and science that’s unmatched anywhere. We see our work through the eyes of the people who will use them every day. Through their eyes, we see places of entertainment, education, innovation, technology, healing and research. The result? Powerful structures with impacts that reach far beyond these walls.

South Pier at Tempe Town Lake

The Cubes at Glendale

Ave Phoenix Sky Skye on 6th Mesa Gateway

Palm Tower

Power Industrial Park

AZRE FORUM

BRIAN COUSINS

Senior vice president, commercial real estate

Arizona Bank & Trust

BACKGROUND: For over two decades, Cousins has been committed to thoroughly comprehending each client’s banking needs and leveraging our bank’s competencies to deliver exemplary service. His expertise includes real estate economics, commercial real estate and working with investors and real estate professionals on complex real estate projects. He is steadfast in ensuring exceptional customer service and upholding the core values of community banking. In addition to his professional endeavors, Cousins is an active board of directors member for Elevate Phoenix, a non-profit organization that delivers complimentary programs to schools. Elevate Phoenix fosters enduring connections with urban students by deploying full-time teacher mentors, establishing a supportive framework to develop life plans and ensuring accountability for positive change.

IMPORTANCE OF AZRE FORUM: “Events like the AZRE Forum are an excellent way to stay current on the latest commercial real estate (CRE) topics. Additionally, they provide a great opportunity to network, learn and stay relevant in CRE’s fast-paced and ever-changing world. In the digital age, events like these offer the best way to continue having human interaction and to develop lifelong, meaningful connections.”

TREND TO WATCH: “Rate, rates, rates. Rates have become more important than location, location, location heading into 2025. Regardless of rate fluctuations, there will be significant opportunities in commercial real estate as always.”

SOURCE OF PRIDE: “Observing people’s dreams materialize in their projects is truly inspiring. Being involved in commercial real estate, I’ve come to appreciate the immense dedication and effort entrepreneurs and developers pour into their work. Witnessing their success and knowing that I’ve contributed to their achievements is incredibly fulfilling and motivates me every single day.”

LEARN MORE: arizbank.com

AZRE FORUM

BACKGROUND: Dalton has more than 30 years of industry experience, starting as a project engineer in Portland and working on a variety of projects throughout the western U.S. — including parking garages, casinos, prisons, ski lifts and the Rose Garden for the Portland Trailblazers.

IMPORTANCE OF AZRE FORUM: “The CRE industry is a large and dynamic part of the AZ economy, and a gathering of a variety active stakeholders in the region is very valuable. Getting real information directly from those involved daily in the local market rather than a national or regional research associate provides real insight into market sentiment.”

TREND TO WATCH: “Everybody is watching interest rates and finding out that outguessing the Fed is a fool’s errand. The larger forces we see shaping the market will continue regardless of rates — although rates will impact pace. The country is shifting clearly toward on-shoring and near-shoring, which will be the key drivers of the industrial sector for the next 10 years. Spec industrial is slow now, but will pick back up as manufacturing drives distribution needs. The other big driver will be digital infrastructure driven by the wildfire-like growth of AI. Phoenix is a perfect spot for data centers and will be the leader nationwide in coming years for new data center construction — if we can meet the power demands.”

LEARN MORE: fclbuilders.com/team/phoenix

BACKGROUND: Gottlieb graduated with high honors from the business program at Michigan State University, and then attended the Sandra Day O’Connor School of Law at Arizona State University, where he served as the managing editor for the Arizona State Law Journal. Gottlieb is an experienced attorney who has handled hundreds of real estate, business and commercial cases. His more than 13-year legal career has been highlighted by numerous court victories and successful settlements for his clients.

IMPORTANCE OF AZRE FORUM:

“It is important to keep abreast of the current state of the commercial real estate market in Arizona, which does not necessarily follow national trends due in part to people and businesses that continue to move to Arizona each year. Further, the federal reserve and federal government unleashed an unprecedented amount of stimulus into the economy in 2020 and 2021, followed by a rapid rate hike cycle to contain inflation in 2022, we are currently at an inflection point — will rates come down or stay higher for longer?”

TREND TO WATCH: “People should pay attention to interest rates, which have broad ramifications as to the commercial real estate market and could affect whether investors are able to refinance, whether loan workouts occur, or whether sales altogether might happen. If rates stay higher for longer, this could lead to more dealmaking and activity, as borrowers struggle to refinance.”

LEARN MORE: gottlieblawaz.com

JEFF DALTON

Vice president of pre-construction FCL Builders

BENJAMIN GOTTLIEB

Founding partner

Gottlieb Law, PLC

Homes Coming 2025

Discover what will soon be Arizona’s largest master planned community, with homes built alongside nature. Say hello to Teravalis. Discover Teravalis today. teravalis.com

AZRE FORUM

ALEX HANCOCK

BACKGROUND: Hancock is the senior vice president of national sales and leasing for Howard Hughes. In this capacity, Hancock is involved in all aspects of commercial growth in Teravalis, Howard Hughes’ new 37,000-acre community in the Phoenix West Valley.

IMPORTANCE OF AZRE FORUM: “Forums are important as they give those of us in commercial real estate an opportunity to get outside of our organizations and projects to hear from others in our industry about development forecasting, commercial trends, overall industry updates and what others are experiencing in the space.”

TREND TO WATCH: “A trend we have already seen take hold the last few years following the pandemic that will continue is the move for individual cities and towns to create their own urban entertainment districts utilizing commercial space. East Valley towns like Gilbert and Chandler have already achieved this, Goodyear is currently building GSQ and one day, Teravalis will have a ‘downtown’ with mixed-use commercial space so residents can enjoy an urban-city feel without having to drive to Phoenix, Scottsdale or nearer by in Avondale and Goodyear.”

SOURCE OF PRIDE: “My greatest professional accomplishments are all related to ‘wins’ that have been worked on in collaboration with our economic development and municipal partners. Working together with those regional or local teams shows the strength of the community and the power of aligned vision to grow or diversify a local economy.”

LEARN MORE: howardhughes.com

JOHN ORSAK

BACKGROUND: A 22-year veteran of the commercial real estate industry, Orsak and his team are responsible for development, acquisitions, leasing, property and project management across Arizona, Nevada and New Mexico. Orsak has been successful in developing over 13 million square feet during his time at Lincoln Property Company.

IMPORTANCE OF AZRE FORUM: “I’m a huge proponent of collaboration, and events like the AZRE Forum provide a unique platform for this. If you’ve worked in the Phoenix commercial real estate market for any length of time, you’ve witnessed its steady — sometimes dizzying — evolution. Listening and learning together builds a collective knowledge, with which we can build better projects that best speak to market demand and drive progress. That is critical to maintaining our industry’s relevance and its sustainability.”

TREND TO WATCH: “Labor is a huge factor driving commercial real estate decisions. Employees want well located, quality buildings with onsite and nearby amenities, and developers are responding. On the industrial front, this helps our tenants compete for workers and in their marketplace. On the office front, it empowers businesses to compete for labor and can actually be a makeor-break move when it comes to enticing workers back to the office. It has been our goal to develop creative solutions to solve for this factor and contribute to the evolution of our markets.”

LEARN MORE: lpc.com/office/phoenix/

Senior vice president of national sales and leasing

Howard Hughes

Senior vice president Lincoln

AZRE FORUM

MARTI WEINSTEIN Partner

Diversified Partners

BACKGROUND: Weinstein has been instrumental in driving internal leasing efforts for new developments at Diversified Partners, serving as a dynamic team leader while nurturing and mentoring junior agents within the office. In her new role as partner, she is responsible for overseeing a majority of Diversified’s third-party leasing and sales business across numerous shopping centers throughout Arizona.

IMPORTANCE OF AZRE FORUM: “Events like the AZRE Forum are important because they provide a platform for industry professionals to exchange insights, network and stay updated on the latest trends and developments in CRE. These forums foster collaboration and innovation, helping attendees make informed decisions and drive the industry forward. They also offer opportunities for professional growth and community building, which are essential for the continued success and evolution of the sector.”

TRENDS TO WATCH: “I think there are three key trends to watch as we head into 2025 and beyond. First, the fluctuation of interest rates significantly impacts borrowing costs and investment returns, playing a crucial role in real estate financing and development decisions. Second, rising construction costs, driven by supply chain disruptions and increasing material prices, affect project feasibility and profitability. And lastly, the retail landscape is shifting towards more experience-focused concepts. Shopping center owners are increasingly filling their properties with ‘Instagrammable’ and entertainment-focused venues, catering to consumers’ desires for unique and engaging experiences. This evolution is transforming retail spaces into dynamic destinations that attract visitors and enhance customer engagement.”

LEARN MORE: dpcre.com

JENNIFER STEIN Director of economic development services department City of Peoria

BACKGROUND: Stein’s primary focus is leading a team of experts who specialize in business attraction and development, business retention and expansion. She brings more than 25 years of experience in public and private sector communications, marketing, strategic planning, management and community relations to her new economic development role in the City of Peoria.

IMPORTANCE OF AZRE FORUM: “The AZRE Forum brings together some of Arizona’s most respected and influential commercial real estate leaders to share their insights on the health of the industry. For economic developers, it’s critical to understand the market from a CRE perspective and see what’s driving development. By attending the AZRE Forum, we can expect to hear from a diverse panel of speakers sharing future market trends and expectations, and what industries are rapidly growing in Arizona.”

SOURCE OF PRIDE: “As the Economic Development Director in Peoria, I have a unique position which provides me with an opportunity to meet many people from a diversity of industries. This allows me to be a connector and collaborator. I have brought together workforce development connections with industry partners that have resulted in hiring talented residents/students while strengthening our future workforce. My position also affords me the opportunity to be at the forefront of building a city with key amenities that have been most requested by our residents.”

LEARN MORE: peoriaaz.gov

The AZRE Forum brings together some of Arizona’s most influential commercial real estate leaders to share their thoughts for a mid-year industry update.

PANEL 1: THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION

Moderator: BRIAN COUSINS

Arizona Bank & Trust

Earl Collins Cordia

Jeff Dalton

FCL Builders

John Orsack

Lincoln

Marti Weinstein

Diversified Partners

PANEL 2: WHERE DO WE GROW FROM HERE?

Moderator: PHIL BREIDENBACH Colliers

Ryan Abbott Clayco

Ben Gottlieb

Gottlieb Law, PLC

Alex Hancock

Howard Hughes

Jennifer Stein City of Peoria

YOUR COMPLETE MULTIMEDIA SOLUTION!

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Hilton Scottsdale Resort & Villas 6333 N. Scottsdale Road Scottsdale, AZ 85251

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RETAIL TRENDS SHOPPING SPREE

Retail remains healthy in the post-pandemic recovery

By KYLE BACKER

Greater Phoenix’s retail sector has seen a spectacular recovery since the pandemic, with Avison Young’s First Quarter 2024 Phoenix Retail Market Report stating that “since Q4 2020, Phoenix has rebounded, creating a national leading market with demand surpassing availability.” More than 1 million square feet of new space has been delivered in the last year, with an additional 2.7 million under construction, with the report calling the region “a bellwether for retail real estate in the U.S.”

The last quarter of 2023 saw the direct vacancy rate at 4.9%, with Q1 2024 rising slightly to 5.2%

thanks in part to the delivery of new construction. James DeCremer, principal at Avison Young, notes that vacancy is the lowest he has seen in his 21 years as a retail broker.

“It’s good because it means the retail sector and sales are healthy,” he continues. “The only problem is that we need to build more, and it’s challenging to build right now. Supply chain issues are normalizing, but all of the development and construction inputs including land costs, cost to improve the land and get it development ready.”

In Q1 2024, the Phoenix retail market saw its first negative net absorption since the pandemic at 397,567 square feet due to lease expirations and

permanent closures of some larger retailers, such as 99 Cents Only closing nearly 40 stores in the Valley.

“What you had there in the first quarter is some new space being delivered and not all of it being absorbed. You also had some closures of box spaces,” explains Matt Milinovich, principal at Avison Young. “I don’t expect [negative absorption] to continue. I think we’ll be back on the positive side for the rest of the calendar year.”

Reuben Nach, commercial brokerage associate at R.O.I. Properties, adds that retail is still a fundamentally sound asset where pricing is less affected by the aftereffects of the pandemic.

“My clients and I are bullish on retail

because of the limited inventory out there,” he continues. “There’s not a whole lot of construction going on, so that’s keeping the pricing of existing retail up — we’re still seeing high price per square foot and decently low cap rates.”

According to the Avison Young report, in Q1 2023, average rent stood at $22.52, indicating an increase of $2.25 or 8.8% when comparing year-over-year data. During the middle of the pandemic — Q1 2021 — rents were at $19.77, reflecting a substantial growth of 23.9% by Q1 2024.

From online to in-store

In the last few decades, the brick-andmortar retail market has undergone a

series of disruptions, from the advent of e-commerce to the drop-off in demand during the Great Financial Crisis. David Larcher, president and CEO of Vestar, says that throughout his 40 years in the business, one of the enjoyable aspects of retail development is the dynamic nature of the industry.

“You need to be at the forefront of those changes and anticipate them rather than respond to them,” he says. “We went through this period after the Great Financial Crisis when the world thought e-commerce was going to take over. Since COVID-19, brick-and-mortar retail has thrived and is proof that people do want to get out of the house.”

Large retailers, Larcher continues, are adapting to the demand for both brickand-mortal locations and the convenience of online ordering by using physical stores as last-mile fulfillment centers. This allows people to buy online and pick up the item in the store, which also opens opportunities to make additional purchases once they are in the building, or to go to another nearby store.

“Most of the new stores in the shopping centers we’re building have specific facilities to accommodate that, which is definitely a trend,” Larcher says.

The International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) published a report examining the “halo effect” — or the impact that brick-and-mortar retail has

RISING IN THE WEST: Verrado Marketplace in Buckeye is a $275 million, 500,000-squarefoot project that will be anchored by Target, Harkins BackLot, Safeway, Marshalls, Ross and HomeGoods. (Rendering provided by Vestar)

RETAIL TRENDS

on online sales. The report notes that opening a store boosts online sales in the trade area surrounding that area by an average of 6.9% in the immediate weeks following the opening.

“For emerging, direct-to-consumer brands, the benefits are even higher — the correlating halo effect for online sales is 13.9% when opening a new store. Conversely, closing stores has an even greater negative impact on retailer performance, resulting in an 11.5% drop in sales,” the report continues.

Headwinds

Even though the retail sector has survived multiple shocks to the market over the past two decades, the current environment still poses challenges. Nach points to higher interest rates as a pain point.

“Interest rates hurt the institutional markets where all these deals are reliant on financing. But the segment in retail that’s doing better is deals under the $5 million threshold. That’s your single tenant net lease deals like Starbucks or [Raising] Cane’s,” he continues. “Interest rates are a headwind, but smaller deals aren’t getting hit too hard.”

Larcher adds that retail is in a unique place compared to the rest of his career since there’s an imbalance of supply and demand for space, with there being more demand for space than supply. The combination of interest rates and elevated construction costs, however, make meeting demand difficult.

“Those two factors will limit any new supply of retail space out there, so I don’t see a point anywhere in the near future where we’re going to reach an oversupply — and I’m not just talking here, but across the country,” Larcher concludes. “Over the last 15 years, even though the country has grown by about 80 million people, there’s been a declining supply of retail space as [nonviable properties] have been demolished. Assuming the consumer stays healthy, meaning we don’t hit recessionary or unemployment problems, we feel very good about what we’re seeing.”

VESTAR PROJECTS

Verrado Marketplace: Located in Buckeye, this $275 million, 500,000-square-foot project will be anchored by Target, Harkins BackLot, Safeway, Marshalls, Ross and HomeGoods. Construction is scheduled to start in the Fall 2024 with a projected opening date of Spring 2026. Verrado Marketplace will be the third Vestar property to have the SIP & STROLL program, allowing shoppers over the age of 21 to purchase alcoholic beverages at designated restaurants and bars and then enjoy the beverage throughout the property.

Queen Creek Crossing: The 31-acre shopping destination is located in Queen Creek and will be anchored by Costco. This project will cost $56 million and is 100% leased. All tenants should be open by the end of 2024. Phase 2 tenants include Ashley Furniture, Hobby Lobby, Snip-its Haircuts, Smoothie King, Desert Financial Credit Union, BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse, ONO Hawaiian BBQ, The Habit Burger Grill and more.

Vineyard Towne Center: Located in Queen Creek, the 23-acre retail center will offer a mix of shops, services and restaurants over two phases of development. Sprouts Farmers Market opened its doors in August 2023, marking the official Phase 1 grand opening. Phase 2 broke ground May 2024, with anchor tenant Target projected to open in the Fall 2025. This project will cost $104 million.

The Shops at Lake Pleasant: This project in Peoria is a $32 million, 90,000-square-foot retail center that is nearly 100% leased. This center has a roster of specialty, service and dining tenants including Honor Health, In-n-Out, Raising Cane’s, Over Easy, Handel’s Ice Cream, Visionworks and more. Construction is currently underway and is scheduled to be 100% open by the end of 2024.

Laveen Towne Center: This 400,000-square-foot retail center located in South Phoenix will feature rustic architecture to complement the community’s agricultural roots. Anchor tenants have not been announced and construction on this project is set to start in mid2025. The total project cost will be $185 million.

RISING IN THE EAST:

Thanks to the growth in Queen Creek, Vestar is developing two shopping centers in the submarket — Vineyard Towne Center and Queen Creek Crossing. Taken together, both projects will add 54 acres of shopping for a total of investment of $160 million. (Rendering provided by Vestar)

CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY

TFOCUSED ON THE FUTURE

How the construction industry is embracing technology

By KYLE BACKER

echnology has changed how businesses operate across every sector and the construction industry is no exception. Today, technology is used throughout the construction process, from preconstruction to ensuring safety at the job site — and increasingly, in the buildings themselves. The ability to capture and leverage data has led to an explosion of insights to draw upon, according to Dustin Schafer, CTO for

Henderson Engineers.

“The whole industry is trying to get organized,” he explains. “What we’re trying to do is take data from different platforms and combine it in a way that allows us to study past design, predict future outcomes or even just give context to solutions. In the past, good design was what the designer told you was good design. What we’re doing now is saying, ‘There’s 600,000 possible designs we came up with, we ranked them according

to this algorithm, and here’s some data we can provide to help you understand why we think this one is the best.’”

For Carl Hamilton, director of safety for Stevens-Leinweber Construction, utilizing data is an important facet for jobsite safety. He collects data from multiple channels, including superintendents, subcontractors, owners and architects.

“I compile the data into a dynamic spreadsheet and put it into [CMiC, a

construction management platform],” he says. “The superintendent can also put data into CMiC that is safetyrelated and specific to the site, such as a high-risk operation like a crane.”

Having the information regarding what is happening at the jobsite allows Hamilton to calculate risk and identify hazards.

“I can look [at the data] and determine if it’s what I call a sudden hazard that will go away tomorrow

or if it’s something that is impending over a longer term. Then I can say what control we need to put in place, here’s what the costs will be to do that and how we train and educate not only our superintendents, but our subcontractors as well,” he says.

Scott Root, executive director of strategy and innovation at Kitchell, adds that technology can aid in jobsite safety in other ways too. He says that a senior superintendent with more than three

decades of experience now uses drones to leverage photogrammetry while putting together his safety plan.

“That helps to make sure that at the end of the day, the job can not only be done on time, but completed as safely as possible,” Root continues. “He’s said that he will never do another job without it, which is a good indicator that we’re moving in the right direction [when it comes to adopting technology in the field.]”

Seeing is believing

In early 2024, Apple released the Apple Vision Pro, which has been billed as the next big thing in virtual reality (VR). Other technology companies such as Meta have also announced ambitious plans for VR, but for most people, the products are still something of a novelty. Yet in the construction industry, VR is already being utilized to great effect.

Root notes that Kitchell is experimenting with a new VR software called Resolve that allows multiple users in the virtual space from any location.

“Our MEP expert was in the Tucson office and walked our clients in Phoenix, who were at the jobsite, through the model to review the nurse stations, ADA access and shut off valve options. Our goal is to utilize the technology so we can provide our subject matter expertise (design, quality assurance, constructability, etc.) to our clients/ jobs at any time and any location to help facilitate decision making,” he writes in an email.

For Jeff Emmons, CEO of Immedia and founder of Southwest Experience Center, VR has transformed how his business designs projects. If someone wanted his company to design the audio/

CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY

visual (AV) components of a board room, the old process included getting the AutoCAD drawings from the client’s architect, which his team would use to create the design.

Today, that workflow has been streamlined. Emmons explains that an employee showed him a company that has created a VR database with the parts often used when designing AV systems. Using this technology, a user can drag-and-drop different parts into a virtual copy of the space they are designing for.

“A lot of people don’t realize there is science behind audio and visual,” Emmons explains. “There’s a dispersion pattern on a speaker, so the higher it is, the wider the cone [of sound emitted] is. What we want to do is create an even field of audio when we’re doing the design. In the VR app, you can place the speakers and see where the audio zones are lining up.”

Beyond seeing where the speakers will direct sound towards, Emmons can also introduce other elements into the VR re-creation of a space to see how it affects the acoustics.

“A lot of people don’t realize there is science behind audio and visual.”

— Jeff Emmons

“Concrete and glass are very reflective and therefore create pretty gnarly acoustic issues,” he continues. “Thanks to this virtual reality software, I can input that there’s a glass table in the room, glass windows and a concrete floor. Then I can hit a button and show you where the sound is going to reflect the most and where you need to place your acoustic treatments. And if that isn’t cool enough, when I hit print, it will automatically deliver a full set of drawings and documentation on the exact dimensions of every one of these pieces that needs to be installed.”

As technology continues to be integrated into the construction industry, Schafer warns that it is not a panacea for all problems.

“Technology doesn’t equal innovation, and innovation does not equal technology,” he concludes. “It’s important for people to continue to push themselves to learn about technology, but don’t let it just be about the technology. Technology is an enabler of innovation, and it’s important to make that distinction.”

Carl Hamilton Jeff Emmons

Dustin Schafer Scott Root

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DIGGING DEEP FOR SUCCESS

Mining and other industries will be driving billions of dollars into Pinal County’s economy

Pinal Partnership - Uniting the vision for Pinal County

Pinal County continues to be the fastest growing county in Arizona with some of the most exciting possibilities in the country. Nowhere else can you find the combination of new roads, new housing, innovative economic development and beautiful recreational open space.

Pinal Partnership formed in 2005 to bring together people who want the very best for Pinal County. Our members represent industry leaders throughout Pinal County including agriculture, home building, manufacturing, mining, renewable energy and tourism as well as state, county and city/town government leadership.

COPPER COUNTY

Mining in Pinal County will generate billions in economic activity

By KYLE BACKER

SincePinal County’s formation in 1875, copper mining has been an integral part of the region’s economy, creating thousands of jobs and generating billions of dollars in tax revenue. Today, Arizona leads the nation in copper production, accounting for approximately 70% of U.S. domestic output according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The Arizona Mining Association reports that the mining and rock products industries support over 74,700 jobs in the state.

GAME-CHANGING PROJECT: The Resolution Copper project is a proposed underground mine 60 miles east of Phoenix, near the town of Superior. The ore deposit lies nearly 7,000 feet below the earth’s surface. It represents one of the most significant untapped copper deposits today, with an estimated copper resource of 1.787 billion metric tonnes at an average grade of 1.5% copper. The mine has the potential to supply nearly 25% of U.S. copper demand. (Photo courtesy of Resolution Copper)

As the demand for copper increases thanks to electric vehicles and other technological advances, Pinal County is seeing a resurgence of copper mining, with operations such as Florence Copper and Resolution Copper hitting important project milestones.

“Florence Copper is at a very exciting point in our project’s history,” explains Sophie Dessart, manager of communications and public affairs for Florence Copper in an email interview.

“Following receipt of our final major federal permit in the fall of 2023, we are advancing toward commercial operations. This expands our smallerscale production test facility, which successfully produced over 1 million pounds of copper on site using [insitu copper recovery (ISCR)]. The first copper cathode from Florence Copper’s commercial facility is expected at the end of next year (2025).”

Over the 22-year life of the operation, Florence Copper will produce 1.5 billion pounds of copper, with an annual production capacity of 85 million pounds. The deposit that Resolution Copper will be mining is located between 5,000 and 7,000 feet below ground and is expected to become the largest copper mine in North America, producing up to 25% of U.S. copper demand each year. Resolution Copper is estimated to extract up to 40 billion pounds of copper over its 40-year operation.

Here’s more about these two transformative mining projects in Pinal County.

Florence Copper

Located midway between Phoenix and Tucson, the Florence Copper deposit was discovered in 1969, but it has taken decades for the conditions to be right to advance the deposit into commercial operations. Dessart notes that technological advances in mining, coupled with an increasing demand for minerals like copper, have pushed projects forward that previously were not economically or technologically feasible.

Rather than an open-pit or underground mine, Florence Copper utilizes a process known as ISCR, where copper minerals are dissolved below

PINAL COUNTY DEVELOPMENT

“We are seeing a resurgence of mining in Pinal County. Mining projects are incredibly unique in the sense that we don’t choose where to locate our business — we have to go to where the resources are located.” – Sophie Dessart

ground and pumped to the surface as a copper-rich solution, which is then plated into LME Grade A copper cathode sheets on site. The ISCR process comes with environmental benefits, Dessart explains, including limited land disturbance, reduced greenhouse gas emissions intensity, and lower energy and water use.

Currently, Florence Copper has approximately 70 employees, but is set to hire another 90 in the next year, with a focus on hiring Arizona talent.

“As a project, we are committed to providing local job opportunities, and I’m proud to say that the majority of our 2023 and 2024 hires were local Pinal County residents,” Dessart says. “Over the operation’s lifetime, Florence Copper will support an annual average of approximately 820 direct, indirect and induced jobs in Arizona, according to an economic and fiscal impact study conducted by the L. William Seidman Research Institute at Arizona State University.”

Researchers at ASU estimate that Florence Copper will increase the state’s GDP by more than $4.3 billion over 26 years, with more than $2.6 billion in economic activity originating in Pinal County. The report also finds that the project will support $2.2 billion in personal income over the same time span, including more than $1.5 billion for Pinal County workers and business owners.

“We are seeing a resurgence of mining in Pinal County. Mining projects are incredibly unique in the

sense that we don’t choose where to locate our business — we have to go to where the resources are located,” Dessart says. “Pinal County has been fortunate to be endowed with significant natural resources, particularly copper deposits.”

As the U.S. continues to transition to green technologies, Dessart says that copper will remain a vital asset for the state.

“The green energy transition will not be possible without copper,” she continues. “Solar and wind power are two to five times more copper intensive than traditional energy sources, and electric vehicles require more copper compared to conventional gas-powered cars, meaning that copper will become an even more important part of our lives in the future.”

Resolution Copper

From 1910 to 1996, the Magma Mine produced copper near the Town of Superior. In 2004, Resolution Copper assumed control of the Magma Mine to extract a rich new copper deposit and keep the site active after closure. So far, more than $2 billion has been spent on the project.

The current permitting process started in 2013, and the U.S. Forest Service published the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) in 2020, but Tyson Nansel, principal advisor communications for Resolution Copper, explains that it was rescinded in early 2021 to

conduct further tribal consultation and confirm strict compliance with environmental laws.

“We’re waiting for the republication of the FEIS, but once that happens, that’s just one big step for Resolution to get into construction, and then work through other permits before we eventually start mining,” he says. “We are going to be operating a significant, technology-driven mine with a substantial copper ore body. The mine is estimated to produce 40 billion pounds of copper ore over 40 years.”

Construction on the mine will take about a decade to complete, but once Resolution Copper is fully operational, it expects to directly employ 1,500 workers. Nansel notes that the company is committed to hiring local vendors and workers, so the project expects to create an additional 2,200 indirect jobs, meaning the mine will support 3,700 total employees.

“People think of old historic mines with miners swinging pickaxes where protecting the environment wasn’t top of mind,” Nansel continues. “Mining is now done with a lot of care. We’ve done extensive community and Native American consultation to make sure that there is minimal impact to the area. Resolution Copper is committed for the life of the mine and beyond to safely and responsibly develop one of the largest copper mines in North America while also bringing jobs and long-term economic benefits to the region.”

Sophie Dessart Tyson Nansel

MINING TOMORROW’S COPPER WITH LESS WATER

Using cutting-edge tech to recycle water & cut consumption

Transferring 5,400+ acres of water-critical land to federal conservation.

Continuously monitoring groundwater with Tribal members and local Community Working Group

PINAL COUNTY DEVELOPMENT

CLEARED FOR TAKEOFF

How the aviation industry is expanding in Pinal County

rizona’s aerospace industry has long been a critical sector for the state, with the Aeronautical Repair Station Association ranking Arizona among the top two for aviation maintenance economic activity. While Greater Phoenix and Tucson are home to many companies in the sector, Pinal County has seen a recent surge of aviation-related development from companies such as Win Aviation and Ascent Aviation Services.

Hennie van Niekerk, pre-construction manager at Alston Construction, says that there are multiple reasons why the aviation industry is growing. The state’s low humidity and minimal rain reduces the risk of corrosion and weatherrelated damage to aircraft, making it an appealing place to build a hangar.

“Arizona has a reputation for being business-friendly, offering various tax incentives and favorable regulations to attract and retain businesses. These incentives can potentially encourage private hangar development by reducing the financial burden on developers and operators,” van Niekerk writes in an email.

One company investing in Pinal County is Win Aviation. Alston Construction is building a new 36,000-square-foot hangar located at Coolidge Municipal Airport for Win Aviation’s maintenance operations.

“In a nutshell, [Win Aviation] purchases aircraft from the military and lease them back, and they cover the maintenance in between,” van Niekerk continues. “They have approximately 28 aircraft, along with pilots who fly them. When the planes need major repairs, they will either come to Arizona or to their headquarters in Illinois.”

The hangar has airside access via the taxiway, which makes this project unique.

“The hangar has a concrete apron on the front of it, but it also has a hangar door in the front and back,” van Niekerk explains. “That means [Win Aviation] can take the aircraft from the front to the back, which is not common.”

Pinal Airpark

Southeast of the Coolidge Municipal Airport is Pinal Air Park, which is the site of Ascent Aviation Service’s recent expansion. The $55 million project will increase the company’s hangar capacity by 180,000 square feet, along with an additional 60,000 square feet of storage and shop space. Ascent Aviation Services will use the facility to convert two lines of Boeing B777-300ER aircraft for Israel Aerospace Industries, supporting more than 300 new jobs.

“This investment not only enhances our aerospace capabilities, but also underscores the collaborative and

PINAL COUNTY DEVELOPMENT

regional spirit of our community,” says Joe Snell, president and CEO of Sun Corridor Inc., in a press release. “Together, we continue to position Southern Arizona as a leader in aviation innovation, driving economic growth and prosperity for generations to come.”

Scott Butler, chief commercial officer for Ascent Aviation Services, adds that the company will gut existing passenger aircraft, reinforce all the structural areas and cut out a larger door to make room for cargo before doing a heavy maintenance check and recertifying the plane for cargo operations.

“There are freighters delivered directly from Boeing, but they cost as much as a brand-new aircraft,” Butler explains. “The business case [for Ascent Aviation Services] is to take a midlifecycle aircraft — which for a widebody plane is anywhere from 15 to 20 years — and convert it to cargo, which gives the owner another two decades plus out of that aircraft.”

Arizona’s robust aviation industry makes it an attractive place to expand operations, Butler continues.

“As a company, you don’t want to be on an island by yourself,” he says. “You want to make sure the ecosystem can continue to support you. Not only do we need workers and infrastructure, but we need a good government partner like Pinal Airpark and the county to help remove roadblocks.”

Having an existing supply chain is also a boon for business, especially since Ascent Aviation Services needs to turnaround aircraft quickly at times.

“A lot of our vendors are all within Arizona or very close by,” Butler says. “There are several companies

in Phoenix and in Tucson that can support us on different aircraft. Luke Air Force Base and Davis-Monthan Airforce Base creates a pipeline, including people innovating and starting their own companies here.”

Construction quirks

Every project has its own intricacies, but building at an airport comes with its own unique challenges. Jim Petty, airport operations manager at Pinal Airpark, notes that nearly anytime something is built at the airport, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) gets involved.

“If [a project] changes anything on the airport layout plan, it has to be environmentally cleared,” he explains. “Depending on the size and scope of the project, it can be as simple as writing an email.”

A building may require what’s called a categorical exclusion, where the construction company fills out a document asking environment related questions such as archaeological hotspots, endangered species and wetlands. Petty notes that the categorical exclusion process for Ascent Aviation Services’ project took nearly three months to complete, whereas an environmental impact statement — which is the most comprehensive process — can take upwards of three years to get approval.

Safety is another primary concern of the FAA, and a safety plan must be signed off by the agency before any construction can begin.

“They review [the safety plan] and either accept it or make comments on what needs to change,” Petty says. “That helps ensure that people are

using the runway facilities in a safe manner with proper signage and barricades during construction. For a project like Ascent is doing, we have to do a notice of proposed construction to the FAA. That includes reporting the latitude and longitude of the buildings and the height of the building. The FAA analyzes that to see if there’s going to be any impact to flight at the airport, or if it’s a tall structure it may need to be illuminated.”

Dean Howard, director of business development at Alston Construction, adds that building at an airport requires coordination with multiple stakeholders, including officials from the FAA, airport and city. Getting construction materials in and out of the airport is more challenging than a typical jobsite, and security concerns may require workers to have an escort onto the premises.

“The regulations and bureaucracies involved can get technical, whether you’re working at a large airport like Sky Harbor all the way down to these smaller municipal airports. There’s an extra air of caution and nuances we have to be familiar with,” he continues.

From an economic development perspective, Howard is bullish on Pinal County and sees it as a region ripe for continued growth.

“We’ve all learned that we need to have a diverse economy in this state, and in my opinion, Pinal County is the hot spot for development right now,” he concludes. “There’s Lucid Motors, LG Energy Solution already there, and lots of other companies are looking down there to locate. Pinal County is turning into one of the most diverse markets in the state.”

Jim Petty

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PINAL COUNTY DEVELOPMENT

LEARNING TO EARN

How Pinal County educational institutions are preparing the future workforce

By KYLE BACKER

Pinal County has grown rapidly over the last decade, with the Pinal County Economic and Workforce Development Department reporting that population numbers rose from 382,662 residents in 2013 to 467,459 in 2023, constituting nearly a 22.2% increase. Over the same period, companies such as Lucid Motors, LG Energy Solution and Kohler have chosen to locate in the county, creating thousands of jobs. Meeting the workforce requirements of these companies — and others — requires a dynamic education system responsive to the needs of industry.

Two such organizations in Pinal County are Central Arizona Valley Institute of Technology (CAVIT) and Central Arizona College (CAC). Here’s more about how each institution is helping prepare students for gainful employment.

High school learners

Located in Coolidge, CAVIT is a public school district that partners with 17 high schools in Pinal County to provide career and technical education (CTE) classes across multiple disciplines, including construction, welding and electric vehicle (EV) maintenance.

Mike Glover, superintendent of CAVIT, explains that the programs the school offers relate to the in-demand job opportunities in the county.

“We’re all about making sure students get the training they need so they can get immediate employment upon high school graduation,” he continues. “We also work with CAC and offer free dual enrollment credits so students have a jumpstart into post-secondary pathways if that’s their choice. And each of our programs lead to employer-valued and industry-required certifications that will give them

immediate employment into the field they’re interested in.”

As employers move into the area, CAVIT’s programming has expanded to meet the needs of those businesses. Glover notes that in recent years, an influx of employers in the manufacturing and industrial sectors have come to Pinal County, which has led to new options for students.

“We added automated industrial technology, which is a manufacturing driven program to meet the needs of companies that are producing products,” Glover says. “We also added construction and welding, and we’re considering more programs like plumbing, HVAC and electrical. Several years ago, the data did not show the demand for these types of industrial trade programs.”

To ensure that students are learning up-to-date techniques, each program has an advisory committee that meets

Photo provided by Acobe stock

PINAL COUNTY DEVELOPMENT

about four times a year to comment on the curriculum. CAVIT also brings in members of industry to evaluate the performance of students. The majority of teachers are also coming directly from industry into the classroom, giving students insight into what a career in a particular field looks like from a seasoned professional.

Beyond technical skills, CAVIT also teaches “soft skills” such as public speaking and sending professional emails. One of the ways this is practiced is through a career display project, where first year students research a career path and present their findings. There’s also a career speaker forum project that tasks students with bringing in someone from industry to speak to the class about a career pathway.

“Students are trained on how to make a cold call, schedule a time for the speaker and get everything set up for when they come to our campus,” Glover says. “The student introduces the speaker to the class and then leads the discussion after the presentation. The speaker then evaluates that student on their application of professional skills throughout the entire project. It helps our students see what kind of jobs are out there, and it also allows them to make connections and build mentorship opportunities with industry folks.”

Most programs require two years to complete, meaning that students start in their junior year of high school. Glover says that occasionally a student can’t fit CAVIT into their schedule junior year, so they begin the program

as a senior and return to CAVIT after they graduate to finish the program.

Post-secondary prospects

Having an option for high school students to gain industry certifications is a great asset for residents of Pinal County, but there are also options for folks after graduation or are looking for a career change. CAC offers multiple programs for adult learners to earn certifications that will help them find employment.

Andrew Clegg, executive director of career and workforce training at CAC, explains that his role is to interface with businesses that are already in or looking to locate in Pinal County and identify what programs exist to meet their industry needs.

“When LG Energy Solution came into town, we sat down with them and looked at what their job needs were,” he continues. “We identified that we had a training program called automated industrial technology that gives individuals the experience needed to repair all manufacturing equipment. We train what I call the 80%, meaning we give them the general knowledge to be a technician, and then the company will do that last 20% of specialized training.”

The college offers numerous trades-focused courses on its various campuses, but one unique program is called Drive48, which is made possible through a partnership between City of Casa Grande, Pinal County and CAC.

The 13,000-square-foot, state-of-theart facility features robots and multiple training rooms where technicians train for jobs in advanced manufacturing.

Currently, Drive48 is set up to prepare workers on how to program, maintain and troubleshoot assembly robots used in automotive manufacturing.

“Right now, the building is occupied by Lucid Motors, and they’ll bring some of our students there to see the actual robots they may work on at Lucid Motor or another manufacturer,” Clegg explains.

CAC manages and maintains the facility, so when Lucid Motors is finished with it, the building will be used for other programming. The relationship is beneficial to both parties, since Lucid Motors has a place to train employees, and the company helps the college stay up to date on the processes and equipment used in the industry.

Drive48 is the model for other similar programs in the works, collectively called Future48 Workforce Accelerators. Another facility is underway at CAC’s Superstition Mountain Campus in Apache Junction to serve the needs of LG Energy Solution.

“[The company] is building a battery plant in Queen Creek, and we’re hoping to have a building built there similar to what Lucid Motors has,” Clegg says.

“We’ve been working with [LG Energy Solution] for months on what their needs are for training, and we’re looking forward to our partnership.”

Clegg adds that colleges across the state are invaluable parts of their communities.

“We’re providing skills that individuals can use to make a living,” he concludes.

“With any of our trade programs, you come out making a great wage for a fraction of the cost.”

Andrew Clegg Mike Glover

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ARIZONA BUILDERS ALLIANCE

BUILDING THE FUTURE

What construction experts expect for the Valley’s construction

By KYLE BACKER

Arizona’s construction industry has enjoyed an impressive growth streak since the pandemic, with megaprojects underway in the Valley that are changing the economy of the state.

AZRE magazine sat down with the following members of the Arizona Builders Alliance (ABA) to learn more

industry

about the state of the market, the impact of these large projects and the major issues facing the industry.

The panelists

• Justin Dent, executive vice president of operations for McCarthy Building Companies

• Steve Grauer, Southwest regional

vice president for Hensel Phelps

• Wes McClure, CEO of Wilson Electric

The following responses have been edited for length and clarity.

AZRE: How has the market changed since the construction boom started during the pandemic?

Steve Grauer: I think we’re still right in the middle of the boom, quite frankly. I’ve always said we have a good business environment in Arizona with responsible laws and tax policy. The number of companies that have moved here or are relocating their operations here is creating many opportunities. We’re also seeing competitors come

to Phoenix, and while those firms are coming here, they’re not necessarily bringing busloads of people here to support the work. In past business cycles that I’ve seen, you’d have people moving all around the Southwest between the boom and bust. We joke about a lot of Californians coming here, but I haven’t seen enough workers to keep up with

demand. There’s a massive shortage in the trades.

Projects are getting bigger too — practically everyone is working on their largest project ever. There are opportunities in the short term, but there are also long-term risks we’ve yet to feel.

Justin Dent: I would reiterate what Steve said about workforce constraints. That’s something we’ve been navigating for years, but McCarthy is working to shift the focus through our Innovation and Craft Workforce Center and partnering with West-MEC, EVIT and others to further prepare the next generation of builders. A thoughtful approach to train new professionals to do the type of work we’re talking about — whether it’s data centers, airports or hospitals.

We’re seeing a shift in the messaging around being a craft professional and the career you can build versus the traditional college path that for so many years has been talked about as the only way to go.

The other thing I would say about the market is that we’ve recognized the benefits of collaborative delivery. That’s something we’ve been doing in Arizona for a long time. Bringing contractors on early and allowing them to get engaged in the process allows us to plan better, and then projects go smoother, benefiting everyone.

Wes McClure: Thinking about the difference in the market before the pandemic, the types of jobs we were doing were much smaller and completely different. When everything started to pick back up again, I was surprised at how quickly the jobs came and how big they got.

I knew TSMC coming was going to be huge for Phoenix, but I didn’t recognize that there would be another 60 companies coming here to support TSMC. The environment in California and Texas losing some of its industry because of the freeze [in 2021 that caused power disruptions] created this perfect storm where we had people coming here from all directions.

ARIZONA BUILDERS ALLIANCE

AZRE: The size of projects getting larger has been mentioned a couple of times, with TSMC being the prime example of that in Phoenix. What effect do these megaprojects have on the Valley?

JD: Without a doubt, the labor pool, which also drives cost. It takes craft professionals away from other potential projects across the Valley and elsewhere in the state. The other piece that Wes alluded to is all of the companies moving into the market to support TSMC, which again affects labor pool, cost and equipment. All of those things drive schedules at the end of the day. We keep a close pulse on the industry landscape to anticipate these factors as early as possible and ensure we can deliver on what we promised to our clients.

AZRE: Steve, are you still seeing issues with supply chain and getting the resources needed to the job site?

SG: What I hear from partners like Wes is that electrical gear continues to be the item with the most issues. In the past, roof insulation was a problem becuase of what happened in Texas a few years ago, but by far electrical continues to be the hardest to get. Cement was a problem because of the fly ash that goes into concrete materials, but the industry has figured out how to make that work.

You asked about the effects of mega jobs in the Valley, and the one thing that I’d add to what Justin said is inflation. A lot of owners are worried about their projects getting

done, and they don’t care about what other companies are doing. Some of them have workforce stabilization programs on their sites, which is a fancy way to say they’re going to pay premiums to craft workers to come to their job. They’re throwing money at the problem. That means everyone is poaching everybody’s people for a couple dollars more, and that cycle feeds on itself.

AZRE: Wes, what’s going on with electrical gear that is making it so hard to get?

WM: Well, there’s an issue of production, and an issue with supply and demand. There are only three of four different manufacturers of switch gear, and for years, there was no need for them to expand their operations and they fell behind.

When lead times were really bad, developers wanting to do a project would ask, “How much is it going to cost?” And because of the cost of labor and everything is going up, the answer would be, “We’re not sure.” Then they’d ask, “Well, when can we get the switch gear,” and again we’d have to say, “We’re not sure.” If you’re a developer and you don’t know the cost or when you’re going to get the equipment, that project is probably not going to happen.

AZRE: Do you have anything to add regarding the megaprojects in the Valley?

WM: It’s a constant battle for us to keep people. But we’ve had a lot of people come to our company

because we’re employee owned, and we have a lot of benefits that some companies don’t.

Once TSMC started construction, there was upwards of 30,000 construction workers descending on that site each day, and some people got tired of working there. It’d take them 45 minutes to get in and out of the job site. It’s funny because we’d get people asking us if we were working at TSMC, and we’d say no, and they would reply, “Okay, we want to work for you because I don’t want to go out there.”

But it’s important to know where the market is to keep good people around. You can’t wait until they get an offer somewhere else because of what it does to their psyche. So, we have to keep communicating and reminding our folks about things like the ESOP. We just put out our ESOP statements and our stock increased significantly.

You have to also give them a good place to work where they know they have a future and can retire here. Some of the younger guys might leave for $5 more an hour, but the average tenure of our supervision team is more than 15 years, and they know they have great retirement benefits.

AZRE: It sounds like workforce development is the biggest concern facing the industry right now. Are there any other problems readers should know about?

JD: A strong economy is the best way to ensure that we have quality jobs for everybody, so we need to maintain

Justin Dent Steve Grauer Wes McClure

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ARIZONA BUILDERS ALLIANCE

The ABA Way

Kim Davids talks about the impact and priorities of the Arizona Builders Alliance

By KYLE BACKER

At the end of 2023, Kim Davids was appointed the president of the Arizona Builders Alliance (ABA) after serving as the organization’s interim president, and on the ABA Board of Directors before that.

AZRE magazine sat down with Davids to learn more about the ABA, its initiatives and what she’s hearing about the construction industry from members. The following responses have been edited for length and clarity.

AZRE: The ABA is unique in that it is a partnership between two national associations — the Associated Builders & Contractors (ABC) and the Associated General Contractors of America – Building Chapter (AGC). What are the benefits of this structure?

Kim Davids: There’s actually only

one other of what we call “hybrid organizations” in the country, and they’re in Texas. When you join the ABA, you do have to pick an affiliation, either with AGC or ABC. But once you’re a member, you get the benefits of each organization. Each of them have their own perks, but ABA members get to capitalize on their resources from government affairs, tech alliances, safety and education programs. It’s the best of both worlds.

AZRE: The ABA currently has three major pillars for serving the organization, including legislative advocacy, education and membership.

Let’s talk about each of these. What does the organization do on the legislative front?

KD: I’m not sure people understand what we’ve done and how we’ve participated in legislative affairs to benefit the industry. For 30 years, the ABA has been the leading voice advocating for commercial construction at the state capitol and with local governments. We educate lawmakers on the issues that impact our industry and work with them to enact legislation and ordinances that will benefit our businesses, workforce and community.

Some of the issues we focus

on include simplification and fairness of the tax code, prompt payment, workforce development, fair regulation and increased infrastrucure funding.

Currently, we are engaged in litigation to ensure that statutorily prohibited prevailing wage ordinances at the municipal level do not take effect. Through our Board of Director and Government Affairs Committee, our members are on the frontlines engaging with lawmakers at every level of government. If there are ill-advised pieces of legislation out there, we’re trying to make sure that lawmakers know where we stand as an industry.

INFLUENTIAL LEADER:

Kimberly Davids, president of the Arizona Builders Alliance, was one of AZRE magazine’s Most Influetial Women in Commercial Real Estate in 2018. (Photo by Mike Mertes, AZRE, a publication of AZ Big Media)

ARIZONA BUILDERS ALLIANCE

AZRE: What about the education opportunities available through the ABA?

KD: Education is at the forefront of everything that we do. We have several flagship programs, from our Emerging Leaders Forum to our Senior Executive Program (SEP). We have a number of courses that span throughout the year, but we also have different webinars and lunch-and-learn events. We also focus on the more technical aspects of the industry, like blueprint reading, and we have an electrical apprenticeship program. We are currently creating core competency courses, as well. Continual communication with our member companies is essential to ensure we are educating their workforces to keep up with the daily demands of our ever changing industry.

AZRE: You mentioned that there is a program for more senior executives. Can you talk about the value of continued education for those who’ve already been in the industry for a few decades?

KD: Sure. SEP was created with the C-Suite executive in mind. It expands beyond the fundamentals of executing on the job; it’s really about finding the passion and purpose in your life and career. The different cohorts focus on how you show up every day, both at work and at home, so you can be the best version of yourself. When I was running a large general contracting company, and SEP was launched, I found myself conflicted. I asked myself, “If I put myself in a program before other in my company, what kind of message is that sending?” Knowing what I know now, I encourage all top leaders to enroll.

AZRE: Networking is the third pillar of the ABA — what sort of opportunities does the ABA provide for getting to know others in the industry?

KD: The ABA offers several opportunities for members to engage with their peers, trade partners and potential clients. From enrolling

in one or more of our extensive education curriculums, to serving on an advisory board, or getting out of your comfort zone and teaching a class — there is no shortage of professional development offered. We have several committees that are geared towards giving back to the community. And finally, whether you like to golf, skeet shoot, play kickball, paintball or just get out and hike — we have something for everyone.

AZRE: What are some of the top priorities that the ABA is looking at right now?

KD: We’re still in a period of change as I’ve transitioned to being the president of ABA. I think the board is more empowered and focused than ever. We’re a humble bunch. At a recent strategic planning meeting, one board member said, “We don’t brag enough about what we do.” I don’t think people understand all the different education programs, events and resources that we offer.

We’re constantly asking ourselves, “What direction do we want to go?” Our education programs are great, but they could use a little tweaking because the industry is changing more rapidly than ever.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is the latest buzzword, and we need to figure out how to incorporate it into our daily interactions and operations. It’s our responsibility to educate our members and customers on these topics, so we — and they — don’t get left behind.

AZRE: In your conversations with members, how has the recent boom in the Valley affected them?

KD: In years past, a project like TSMC was a unicorn. Now, there are several large scale projects throughout the Valley, sparking a lot of competition. It amplifies the need for quality workforce from the employer perspective, and leaves some employees wondering if the grass is greener — and more lucrative — somewhere else.

Phoenix is the fifth-largest city, but we’re still a small town in a lot of ways with a high focus on trade partner relationships. Ultimately, I think the industry is busier than we’ve ever been, and will remain so for the foreseeable future.

AZRE: Is there anything else you’d like to leave readers with?

KD: I’ve had a lot of people ask me over the last year about how things are going in my new role as president. Coming to the office every day and working with a board who were once my peers and now getting to create change within the industry is an unparalleled experience. It’s very different than running a large company, but the impact that we have on people lives is extremely rewarding

ARIZONA BUILDERS ALLIANCE

LIFELONG LEARNING

The Arizona Builders Alliance offers education programs for newcomers and veterans alike

By DEVYN WILLIAMS AND KYLE BACKER

Education is a key driver of personal and professional growth, which is why the Arizona Builders Alliance (ABA) provides a suite of programs ranging from craft training to leadership development. Kim Davids, president of the ABA, says that “education is at the forefront of everything we do.”

Here are what six ABA members who have completed various offerings available through the ABA have to say about their experiences. To learn more about the ABA’s education programs, visit azbuilders.org/careers/

Jason Brown, project manager at Delta Diversified

Brown started with Delta Diversified in 2011 as an electrician before joining the ABA electrical apprenticeship program in 2014. In Arizona, electricians are not required to have a journeyman card to work, but completing an apprenticeship often leads to higher wages and upward mobility. Once Brown completed his apprenticeship in 2018, he worked his way up to project manager.

The apprenticeship program is a 4-year commitment where students attend two nights a week after work. They are required to work for a full-time contractor of the trade and complete 8,000 paid hours to graduate.

“College isn’t built for everybody, and being in the trades, an apprenticeship is like going to college,” Brown says. “The ABA has a good program, and it’s the route to take for that next step in your career.”

For Brown, his company covered the cost of the program and once he completed it, he decided to give back to the industry by becoming an instructor.

“It’s nice to teach people that have a passion to continue forward with their careers. They’re not just there because they have to be — they want to be there,” Brown says.

Brown advises others in the field not to wait to get their journeyman card. “I waited a few years because an apprenticeship isn’t a requirement in Arizona. But if I had known how it would accelerate my career, I would’ve done it way sooner,” he concludes.

Julia Staten, operations manager at Hensel Phelps

In 2016, Staten joined the ABA’s Young Builders Council where she became a board member, eventually becoming the chair of the council in 2023. That experience, she says, helped her advance her career from project engineer all the way up to operations manager.

“Without some additional leadership experience outside of my day-to-day job, my career might not be where it is now,” she says. “Learning at a young age what kind of leader I wanted to be and what I want to accomplish for my company, the industry and the ABA.”

Part of that leadership education came through her time in the Leadership Development Forum, where she was placed in a group for the program’s case study.

“I got a lot out of being with that group, because at the end of the year, you go present with your group, and it’s a little competition of who ends up being selected as the winner,” Staten says. “You’re creating a stronger network than you would typically make in other social networking interactions. I still call on people from my class.”

She also participated in the Women in Leadership Program, which focuses more on personal development.

“We were really tight knit as a class, but in between sessions our instructor would break us up into small groups where we would have things like offsite lunches or meetings. That helped build those relationships so we had close peers who can relate to our own situations,” Staten says.

Beyond the leadership programs, Staten has also taken the Lean Construction Education Program that teaches how to get projects done faster and at a lower cost.

“The entire program has to do with efficiency and minimizing waste. That can be in both the physical form, but also time,” she continues. “It creates a collaborative project atmosphere that a lot of owners are looking for and ultimately provides a better project experience and can save time and money.”

Staten adds that the ABA is a great way for members of the industry to come together, learn from one another and grow.

“At the end of the day,” she concludes, “the ABA gives us camaraderie and a positive experience in the construction industry.”

ARIZONA BUILDERS ALLIANCE

Tucker Macon, project director at Sundt Construction

For nearly 25 years, Macon has been a part of the ABA, but he started to get more involved with the organization when he attended the Leadership Development Forum in 2015. Now, he sits on the board as chairman for the Leadership Development Forum Alumni Committee that hosts events to help folks stay in contact.

The Leadership Development Forum requires participants to have worked in the construction industry for 8 years and be nominated by someone in the C-suite of their company.

Because of the prerequisites and limited spots in the program, Macon saw an opportunity to create a program that would serve as an introduction to the Leadership Development Forum, requiring only four years in the industry to attend.

“The Emerging Leaders Forum offers a lot of the same things as the Leadership Development Forum, but a much more condensed version,” he says. “There are some super talented younger people in our industry that don’t need to wait eight years to get into this type of program.”

Macon has most recently been involved with the Senior Executive Program, which focuses on the intangibles like “how to lead people, understanding how people need to be led, how to identify different work types and how to identify to get the most out of your team,” he says.

The program also highlights ways for leaders to avoid burnout, because “you can’t take care of a team without taking care of yourself first,” Macon concludes.

Chris Quigley, general superintendent at CHASSE Building Team

In 2017, Quigley got involved with the Emerging Leaders Forum after doing several smaller programs through the ABA.

“I realized there’s a lot more to offer here than what I orginally thought,” Quigley says.

The Emerging Leaders Forum is a six-month management program designed for participants on a leadership trajectory at their company. The program is limited to 30 students where they focus on leadership skills, communication and public speaking. It offers hands-on training with trial runs, coaching and networking for up-and-coming leaders.

“The highlight for me was getting out of my comfort zone. We had to deliver mock presentations that we would present in front of the class and judges, so the ABA did a great job at giving us real life scenarios,” Quigley says.

Another aspect of the class that stood out to Quigley was the opportunity to network with others in the industry.

“It’s good for those who are young in the industry to see just how small it really is,” he continues. “It’s important to treat everybody with respect because you never know whose path you’re going to cross again.”

After participating in that program, Quigley enrolled in the Leadership Development Forum, which doubles down on what was taught in the Emerging Leaders Forum. It’s a yearlong intensive management program limited to 30 students that focuses on management skills, leadership and public speaking.

“It is the most in depth, challenging program and you must be committed to go to the next level,” Quigley says.

One of the requirements of the Leadership Development Forum is to go out and perform $250,000 worth of work for a nonprofit. In Quigley’s case, his team remodeled Resilient Health’s facility, which focuses on families facing hardships or single parents having a place to go for medical assistance or donated clothes.

“I’ve yet to be in an ABA class where I didn’t get something out of it,” he concludes.

ARIZONA BUILDERS ALLIANCE

ABA programs

The ABA has opportunities for those in the construction industry to expand their skills, whether they are new to the field or seasoned veterans. Here are just a few of the programs available:

• Building Information Modeling Education Program

• Construction Administration Program

• Electrical Apprenticeship

• Emerging Leaders Forum

• Leadership Development Forum (LDF)

• Lean Construction Education Program

• Project Manager Development Program

• Senior Executive Program (SEP)

• Supervisory Training Program

• Women in Leadership Program

Jake Addis, project manager at Willmeng Construction

Addis started to get involved with the ABA in 2019 when he went to a meeting with the Young Builders Council (YBC), which is for members of ABA who are under 40. Today, he is the chair of the YBC’s Government Affairs Committee, which is tied to the ABA’s broader legislative efforts.

Throughout his time in the ABA, Addis has taken multiple programs, including the Project Manager Development Program and the Emerging Leaders Forum. Today, he is enrolled in the Leadership Development Forum.

“We spend a lot of time doing public speaking where there is a group project learning how to acquire a company and help write a business plan,” Addis explains.

The frequent public speaking with diverse project stakeholders, tenants, owners and contractors gives students the skillset needed to lead teams.

“I want to use the term boot camp because you are thrown into it, you are forced to get up and speak every class to get feedback from peers,” Addis says.

Doing programs with the ABA is a big commitment, and for people like Addis — who has two young children at home — time is valuable and in short supply.

“Every hour I don’t spend doing my work, I have to do either when they go to bed or before they get up, so [doing ABA programs] is a sacrifice,” he concludes. “But it’s a huge benefit to my career. Networking is the obvious one — I’m doing a project where I’m sharing a site with another general contractor and I’m in a program with the two project managers on the other job. We know each other, and that helps with communication.”

Chris Bell, director of special projects at DP Electric

Bell first got involved with the ABA in 2015 with the Leadership Development Forum. Then, in 2019, he started the Senior Executive Program, which he says provided great insights on how to be a successful leader.

“I found a lot of power in the message they would tell us, if you can’t take care of yourself, you can’t take care of a team,” Bell continues. “I’ve always focused my energy and support to my team. My needs have taken backstage to their needs, which inevitably hurts me, my relationships and my health. As a leader, you should focus on yourself as well.”

The Senior Executive Program is tailored towards leaders who have been in the industry for some time with direct reports “but want to want to continue growing and getting better because everybody can continually learn and get better,” he says. “You should never stop learning.”

In 2022, Bell joined the advisory board for the Project Management Development Program and has been able to support the curriculum to ensure students are mentored.

“The ABA is excellent and that is why I wanted to be an advisory board member so I could be more involved. It’s all about taking care of the up-and-coming leaders for our industry and I love seeing people grow and being a part of that mentorship because that is what the ABA stands for,” Bell continues.

The key to relationships is investment and everyone needs someone to believe in them. The ABA provides training, mentoring and experience through classes, experts and workshops. “I think every company can find value in sending their employees to programs like this because there is so much you can get out of it, so I encourage people to invest in their employees to make their company stronger,” Bell concludes.

ARIZONA BUILDERS ALLIANCE ABA MEMBER PROJECTS TO KNOW

Members of the Arizona Builders Alliance (ABA) spent the last year breaking ground, constructing and delivering some of the state’s best projects. Here are just a few of the most noteworthy projects that ABA members have worked on in the last year.

PROJECT NAME:

Child Crisis Arizona Center for Child and Family Wellness

GENERAL CONTRACTOR: CHASSE Building Team

ARCHITECT: Architectural Resource Team

NOTABLE SUBCONTRACTORS: Pete King Construction, LR Cowan Concrete, RN Electric, Galindo Construction, Corporate Air Mechanical Services

LOCATION: 424 W. Rio Salado Parkway, Mesa

START DATE: March 2023

COMPLETION DATE: May 2024

DETAILS: This facility was a testament to the power of collaboration and the transformative impact of philanthropy from supporters including The Diane & Bruce Halle Foundation, Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust, The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation, Thunderbird Charities, The Kemper & Ethel Marley Foundation, the Neely Foundation, APS Foundation and more.

PROJECT NAME:

La Posada at Pusch Ridge

GENERAL CONTRACTOR : Sundt Construction

ARCHITECT: Gensler

NOTABLE SUBCONTRACTORS: R G & Sons Plumbing, Achilles Air Conditioning, K2 Electric and J.B. Steel

LOCATION: 10930 N. 1st Ave, Oro Valley

START DATE: November 2022

COMPLETION DATE: Mid 2025

PROJECT DESCRIPTION: La Posada at Pusch Ridge is a new independent living facility currently under construction on 80 acres. Phase one of this project consists of 342,688 square feet and 166 units comprised of 11 floor-plan options with customization of high-end finishes.

Constructing with Integrity.

It isn’t just a motto — we live it every day. We’re constantly growing and evolving, but what won’t change is our dedication to doing everything with honesty, safety, unity, and quality.

ARIZONA BUILDERS ALLIANCE

PROJECT NAME:

Lift Station 77

GENERAL CONTRACTOR: Felix Construction

ARCHITECT: Wilson Engineers

NOTABLE SUBCONTRACTORS: Industrial Power Solutions, A-O Painting, MISCOwater

LOCATION: 5100 W. Carefree Hwy, Phoenix

START DATE: April 2021 COMPLETION DATE: December 2023

PROJECT DESCRIPTION: This project entailed the construction of a new lift station in Northwest Phoenix, designed with an initial capacity of 24 million gallons per day (MGD) and future expandability to 45MGD. The lift station’s components included a wet well with dual chambers, the installation of three 240 horsepower submersible pumps, advanced odor control systems including biofilter and chemical treatment. This facility’s purpose was to manage the substantial flows generated by TSMC’s $65 billion chip manufacturing operation.

PROJECT

NAME:

Penske Truck Leasing Corp.

5 Bay New Facility

GENERAL CONTRACTOR: Fleming Complete

ARCHITECT: K&G Architects

NOTABLE SUBCONTRACTORS: W&W Structural

LOCATION: 18335 W. McDowell, Goodyear

START DATE: April 2024

COMPLETION DATE: To be determined

PROJECT DESCRIPTION: This is a 27,720-square-foot building for Penske Truck Rental Company.

PROJECT NAME:

Rehrig Pacific Buckeye Manufacturing Facility

DEVELOPER: Merit Partners

GENERAL CONTRACTOR: FCL Builders

ARCHITECT: Ware Malcomb

NOTABLE SUBCONTRACTORS: Suntec Concrete, Triad Steel Service, Montezuma Paving, RMJ Electrical Contractors

LOCATION: 8283 S. Turner Rd, Buckeye

START DATE: May 2023

COMPLETION DATE: July 2024

PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The 267,000-square-foot Rehrig-Pacific Facility is one of the most sustainable plastic injecting molding factories in the country. The plant includes very large injection molding machines, producing items such as rolling trash and recycle bins.

ARIZONA BUILDERS ALLIANCE

PROJECT NAME:

Signal Butte Water Treatment Plant Expansion

GENERAL CONTRACTOR: McCarthy Building Companies

ARCHITECT: Black & Veatch

LOCATION: 10950 E. Elliot Rd, Mesa

START DATE: January 2024

COMPLETION DATE: June 2026

PROJECT DESCRIPTION: Phase 1 of Signal Butte’s Water Treatment Plan Expansion will add an 8-million-gallon potable water reservoir and additional system redundancies. Phase 2 will focus on doubling the plant’s treatment capacity to 48 million gallons per day, with other enhancements to the plant’s operational efficiency and solids handling capacity.

PROJECT NAME:

Teen Challenge Men’s Center

GENERAL CONTRACTOR: Concord General Contracting

ARCHITECT: Light & Path Architecture

NOTABLE SUBCONTRACTORS: RW Strunk Excavating, Universal Wallboard Corporation, Blue Air and Heat, Catalina Mechanical, Kelly Electric, Barron’s Concrete

LOCATION: 2637 N. Oracle Rd, Tuscon

START DATE: May 2024

COMPLETION DATE: Fall 2025

PROJECT DESCRIPTION: This project includes the demolition of an existing building and the construction of four new buildings. This men’s center will consist of a two-story residence building, a chapel, an administration building and a staff residence building. The exterior of the building will incorporate metal, block and stucco systems.

PROJECT NAME:

Vantage Data Centers AZ1 Campus Phase 2

GENERAL CONTRACTOR: McCarthy Building Companies

ARCHITECT: Corgan

NOTABLE SUBCONTRACTORS: Amfab Steel, Rosendin Electric, Southland Industries, IES Commercial and Industrial, Pete King Construction

LOCATION: 45 S. Bullard Ave, Goodyear

START DATE: October 2022

COMPLETION DATE: November 2024

PROJECT DESCRIPTION: Phase 2 of the Vantage Data Center Campus contributes to the campus’ 176 megawatts of total IT infrastructure to hyperscale tenants. This phase includes the base build and tenant fit up of two ground-up data center buildings and build out of one existing building. The mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems leverage energy-efficient technology with a closed-loop chilled water system.

ARIZONA BUILDERS ALLIANCE

PROJECT NAME:

AR100 ASLD Infrastructure Improvements

GENERAL CONTRACTOR: Haydon

ARCHITECTS: Stanley Consultants, TYLin

NOTABLE SUBCONTRACTORS: Horizontal Boring, On-it Construction, Graco, Regal Fence, Howe Precast

LOCATION: Germann and Ironwood roads, Queen Creek

START DATE : April 2023

COMPLETION DATE: Early 2026

PROJECT DESCRIPTION: This project involves completing new infrastructure improvements for the Town of Queen Creek. The project includes pre-construction services, 12 miles of water and sewer installation, four new miles of roadway improvements, nine auger bore sections and five box culverts.

PROJECT NAME: Queen Creek Recreation and Aquatic Center

GENERAL CONTRACTOR: Haydon

ARCHITECT: DWL Architects + Planners

NOTABLE SUBCONTRACTORS: DP Electric, H-Bros Excavating & Construction, Shasta Industries, Division 3 Structures, Comfort Systems USA

LOCATION: 22343 E. Ryan Rd., Queen Creek

START DATE: June 2023

COMPLETION DATE: Early 2025

PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The new Queen Creek Recreation and Aquatic Center will include an indoor recreation center with various sport courts; basketball, volleyball, pickleball, fitness area, teen room, child watch and classrooms. The outdoor aquatic center will include a zero-depth entry play pool, competition and lap pool, lazy river and slides.

ARIZONA BUILDERS ALLIANCE

PROJECT NAME: Clark Park

GENERAL CONTRACTOR: Haydon

ARCHITECTS: Holly Street Studio, Wood Patel & Associates, Dig Studio

NOTABLE SUBCONTRACTORS: Shasta Industries, Western Building Group, T Bar H’s Desert Horizon

LOCATION: 19th Street and Roosevelt Street, Tempe

START DATE: June 2022

COMPLETION DATE: April 2024

PROJECT DESCRIPTION: Clark Park, a part of the Refresh empe Initiative, offers a year-round heated pool, a 17-foot water slide, four modern classrooms, two art pieces by California artist Nicole Mueller and several additional upgrades.

PROJECT NAME: Pima Road and Happy Valley Road improvements

GENERAL CONTRACTOR: Haydon

ARCHITECTS: Kimley-Horn – Pima Road portion; Ardurra –Happy Valley Road portion

NOTABLE SUBCONTRACTORS: Paveco, Earthscapes Landscaping Contractor, WSP, PPS Construction Services

LOCATION: Pima Road – Pinnacle Peak to Bronco Trail near Scottsdale; Happy Valley Road – Pima Road to Alma School near Scottsdale

START DATE: August 2023

COMPLETION DATE: September 2024

PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The project reconstructed 3.25 miles of roadway, installing 31 culverts, two roundabouts, two signalized intersections (one relocated), and 6,000 linear feet of communication infrastructure. It involved exporting 100,000 cubic yards of material and salvaging more than 300 native plants, while maintaining two lanes on Pima Road and one lane each way on Happy Valley Road.

THE MOST SKILLED BUILDER IN AMERICA

From critical infrastructure to landmark buildings, Sundt has been building Arizona since 1929.