Unique Mixed-Use Community Slated for ASU West

A development partnership has begun negotiations with ASU to develop a 60-acre master-planned "college town", a mixed-use development on the school's West Campus.

Developers Move Forward on Mixed-Use ASU West Project

VTP Partners LLC, a partnership of Trillium Residential, The Plaza Companies and Vestar Development Co., was selected by Arizona State University to enter into formal negotiations to develop a 60-acre site located at 43rd Avenue and Thunderbird Road at the university's West Campus.

The mixed-use project will include approximately one-million sq ft of retail, office space, senior living and multi-family residential to be built on the 60-acre property. Vestar Development will develop approximately 300,000 sq ft of retail, The Plaza Companies will develop approximately 125,000 sq ft of office space and 130,000 sq ft of senior housing while Trillium Residential will develop approximately 500,000 sq ft of multi-family residential. The team is currently working to refine the project's design.

"The innovative nature and extensive experience of these three companies coming together to design and build a "college town" on the ASU West Campus, incorporating new trends in mixed-use development, is what impressed us the most and led to the award of the RFP to this partnership of developers," says Steve Nielsen, assistant vice president, university real estate development.

A collaborative design team has been assembled by the partnership and includes Nelson Architects, DFD CornoyerHedrick, McLarand Vasquez Emsiek & Partners and Gould Evans Associates.

YWS Architects to Design Somerton Resort and Conference Center

26-Story Onyx Tower Planned at Tempe Town Lake

WestStone Communities is planning its 26-story luxury residential tower, Onyx Tower, at Tempe Town Lake. Currently planned as the tallest building on the lake, Onyx Tower is situated on the north shore of a site along Playa Del Norte Drive, the area near Rural Road and Loop 202. Opened for sales last month, Onyx Tower will have 196 lakefront residences ranging in price from the $300,000's to over $1 million. WestStone anticipates to break ground on the $120 million project in the first quarter of this year, with completion expected in summer 2009.

Onyx Tower's solid black glass walls, sleek lines and stark contrasting colors create a modern look. The lobby features contemporary furnishings, stone flooring and a backlit onyx floor-to-ceiling fireplace. At the height of Onyx Tower sits the Sky Lounge. Onyx Tower residents have full access to this entertaining venue on the 15th and 16th floors, complete with a full bar, plasma television and oversized balcony overlooking the lake and skyline.

Residents will have access to a rooftop lap pool, a 10-seat movie theater, custom steam rooms, conference room and a negative-edge pool that appears to cascade directly into the lake.

Each home incorporates floor-to-ceiling windows, hand-cast concrete fireplaces and oversized balconies with glass railings to accentuate the views.

All residences feature unique, open floor plans and kitchens with custom cabinets.

Texas Design Firm Awarded Two Tucson Medical Projects

Ascension Group Architects, an Arlington, Texas firm has two related projects underway in Tucson. Work on Gateway Medical Office Building began in January, while construction on Northwest Surgery Center, an ambulatory surgery center in the medical office building, is expected to begin in June.

The $10.4 million Gateway medical project will complete Northwest Medical Center's overall master plan to develop a fully integrated health care complex and network of providers and services. Continuing their mission to provide cost-effective patient care and outpatient services, Tucson's Northwest Medical Center has partnered with Rendina Companies to develop a multi-story, 62,664-sq-ft medical facility next to the existing hospital and located prominently on the corner of Orange Grove Road and La Cholla Boulevard.

Available for occupancy in the fall, the medical office building has been designed to maximize efficiency of custom-designed medical suites and will be constructed with a structural steel frame and concrete floors to allow flexibility in suite design. Special attention will be given to public area finishes with vinyl wall coverings, ceramic tile flooring and tile ceilings. SM Wilson & Co. of St. Louis is handling the general contracting duties for the medical office project.

The general contractor for the Northwest Surgery Center has not been chosen, but the $5.1 million project is for Plano, Texas-based Triad Hospitals Inc. The 19,000-sq-ft building will feature five operating rooms, two treatment rooms, eight preoperative bays and 20 recovery areas located on the first floor of the MOB. The surgery center is expected to be complete in January 2008.

Private Science and Tech Research Center Planned for Flagstaff

The Plaza Companies and Higgins Development Partners announced they will develop a Science & Technology Park in Flagstaff as a private sector research center that could include up to 200,000 sq ft of office, biotechnology and research space at final build-out. The City of Flagstaff has entered into an agreement with Plaza/Higgins to formally negotiate a ground lease to develop the project on a nine-acre site at the McMillan Mesa, immediately adjacent to the United States Geological Survey Campus and the Northern Arizona Technology and Business Incubator.

"We are working closely with the City of Flagstaff and our designers to develop a LEED-certifiable project that will complement the natural environment and the community resources of Northern Arizona," says Sharon Harper, president and CEO of The Plaza Companies.

In 2002, Arizona's Bioscience Roadmap was commissioned by The Flinn Foundation to assess and enhance Arizona's life science competitiveness. The plan develops Arizona's competitive position in the biosciences and develops a biosciences economic roadmap for the next decade. Northern Arizona leaders recently gathered in Flagstaff to kick off the Northern Arizona Bioscience Roadmap Steering Committee, which will drive a region-focused process to identify existing bioscience-related activity, opportunities, and challenges unique to northern Arizona.

DMJM is the project architect and Sundt Construction is the general contractor. Souris Harris and CBRE have been selected to market and lease the project. The first phase of the project is scheduled to break ground in spring 2008.

McCarthy to Build Consolidated Aviation Offices

McCarthy Building Companies Inc. has been selected to construct a major office complex for the city of Phoenix Aviation Department. The building and surrounding facilities are intended to house nine divisions which are currently spread among several different locations. The city of Phoenix Aviation Department owns and operates three airports - Phoenix Sky Harbor International, Phoenix Deer Valley and Phoenix Goodyear airports.

The new office complex will be located on Sky Harbor premises and is anticipated to be complete in late 2008. The project is still in the design phase and may be up to 250,000 sq ft of office space plus supporting facilities. Construction is expected to begin this summer. The total construction budget is $50 million. Phoenix-based SmithGroup is the design partner.

New Capital Mall Plans Presented

The Phoenix Community Alliance Capitol Mall Committee celebrated Arizona Statehood Day by presenting a new proposal and concept plans for redeveloping the State Capitol complex. In 2005, PCA contracted with Arizona State University College of Design to conduct student studios to study the Capitol Mall district and make recommendations for improvement. This work was followed with an additional engagement to create a vision for the Capitol Mall Centennial Plan.

The boundaries of the Capitol Mall district are Seventh Avenue on the east, 19th Avenue on the west, Van Buren Road on the north, and Harrison Street or the railroad tracks on the south. The Capitol Mall Centennial Plan envisions a series of sustainable connective infrastructures that make public spaces and services more accessible, enhance the efficiency of the complex, and facilitate interaction between legislators from both houses of state government. The plans are a new milestone in PCA's efforts to facilitate the revitalization of the Arizona Capitol Mall in time for the state's centennial in 2012.

In addition to the Centennial Plan, the ASU College of Design introduced three concepts for a new legislative building. Each concept treats the original capitol building as the jewel or centerpiece of the complex, and that the integrity of the historic building will be preserved. The decision to move forward with any of the proposed concepts will be determined through the political process, with approvals required by the legislature and governor. The Legislative Governmental Mall Commission has formed a subcommittee to explore ways for the plan to go forward.

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