Kitchell Wins Civic Plaza Work

The city of Phoenix recently awarded Kitchell CEM a contract for project management services for the Phoenix Civic Plaza Expansion and Symphony Hall Renovation.

The six-year, $618.5 million program is planned to triple the size of the current 302,000-sq.-ft. convention center, which accommodates conventions and exhibitions, trade and consumer shows, meetings, banquets and theatrical productions. The program also features the renovation of the Symphony Hall, the home of The Phoenix Symphony, Arizona Opera, Ballet Arizona and a variety of cultural and popular performances. Construction began earlier this month and will continue as the project is completed in three phases, opening in 2005, 2008 and 2009. The architect is Leo A. Daly/HOK Sport + Event+ Venue/van Dijk Westlake Reed Leskosky. The construction manager-at-risk is the tri-venture team of Hunt-Russell-Alvarado.

Opus West to Build at Master Planned Business Parks

Opus West Corp. recently announced it will develop nearly 2 million sq. ft. of office space in two major developments in North Scottsdale bordering Via de Ventura and the Loop 101 Freeway.

At Pima Center, Opus West and MainSpring Capital Group have announced a joint venture to build an estimated 1.5 millions sq. ft. of office and flex space. The project site is located on 150 acres at the northwest corner of Via de Ventura and the Loop 101 Freeway. The companies will build within the Pima Center, a 209-acre master-planned business park being developed by Phoenix-based MainSpring.

Directly across the street from Pima Center, Opus West will build an additional 270,000 sq. ft. of Class A office space at Opus Calendar Stick, a multi-building project developed by Opus West on 25 acres at the southwest corner of Via de Ventura and Loop 101.

Opus West is scheduled to break ground on both Opus Calendar Stick and Pima Center during the second quarter of 2004.

Architect Lands Concourse Upgrades

Leo A Daly recently won the contract for concourse improvements at Tucson International Airport. The cost as well as the design are yet to be determined.

Preliminary plans call for upgraded security, adding space for dropping off and picking up passengers and adding restroom facilities.

Jordan Starts on New Retail Project

Jordan Construction recently started in the new, $11.5 million retail center at Davis Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson. The 170,000-sq.-ft. retail center will provide military families with a convenient place for shopping.

The project is owned by the Army Air Force Exchange Service and was designed by the Breckinridge Group. The new retail center is across the street from the new Davis Monthan Commissary, a $12 million project that Jordan is also building.

Road Work Begins on Loop 202 in Chandler

Pulice Construction recently started a $47 million contract for the construction of a three-mile segment of the Loop 202 in Chandler.

The road will have three lanes in each direction, plus new traffic interchanges at Arizona Avenue, McQueen Road, Cooper Road and Gilbert Road.

The project consists of 12 bridges, 1 million cu. yds. of excavation, 216,000 cu. yds of concrete and 47,000 tons of asphalt.

Hunt to Build Wellness Center

Hunt Construction Group recently won a second project at the Yavapai Regional Medical Center in Prescott. The firm has been tapped to build a 17,000-sq.-ft. wellness center, and an interior renovation. The started in March.

Granite Wins Project in Southern Arizona

Granite Construction Company's Arizona branch recently won the $1.1 million roadway improvement project on S.R. 287.

The work includes milling, recycling and repaving. Around 20 Granite employees will work on the job.

Work Starts on New County Building

Maricopa County Capital Facilities Development Department recently broke ground on the $11.7 million Public Health and Environmental Services Building.The new facility will be a 56,000-sq.-ft., two-story building above a subterranean parking structure.

The facility will replace the existing public health clinic and also provide a new location for the Maricopa County Environmental Services Department.

The project is being designed by the The Orcutt/Winslow Partnership and Holder Construction is building it.

Summit Underway on Fry's Food Stores

Summit Builders Construction Company of Phoenix is underway on three new food stores for local grocer, Fry's Food Stores of Arizona, with store locations in Avondale, Gilbert and Phoenix, Arizona.

The 76,353-sq.-ft. Avondale store is under construction at 11425 W. Buckeye Road with anticipated completion late 1st quarter, 2004. The Gilbert store, located at 3261 E. Pecos Drive, is slated for completion mid 2nd quarter, 2004. Summit Builders was recently awarded the newest Phoenix store location at the northwest corner of 51st Avenue and Baseline with construction to commence this quarter.

Summit Builders recently completed construction of the Valley's newest Fry's stores in Queen Creek at 542 E. Hunt Highway and in Prescott at 3198 Willow Creek.

Cities Contract With Firm for 5 New Projects in the Valley

Smith/Woods Contracting, LLC has been selected as the construction manager at-risk for five new construction projects.

For the city of Phoenix, SWC is currently completing pre-construction services for fire station No. 16 located at 14th St and Mohave and No. 32 located at 40th St and Baseline. No. 16 will be an approximately 8,500-sq.-ft. replacement station and No. 32 is 13,500-sq.-ft., four-bay station.

Also for the city, SWC will rehabilitate the historic exterior of the memorial and dining hall at Phoenix Indian School. This is the first phase of the restoration of these buildings for future use by the community.

For the town of Buckeye, SWC will construct a new, two to three-bay fire station in the new Sundance housing development.

The most recent award is also for the Town of Buckeye, an addition of a meeting room to the Buckeye Town Library and a new 7,500-sq.-ft. recreation center for the town park.

New Fitness Center Takes Shape Near Sun City West

Phoenix-based Wespac Construction Inc. recently began construction on the Corte Bella Fitness Center, a 15,300-sq.-ft. recreational facility situated within the Corte Bella master-planned community. Corte Bella, located north of Bell Road on Deer Valley Drive, adjacent to Sun City West, is Del Webb's first active adult country club, and the first club of its kind in the Phoenix area.

Scheduled for completion in August, the Corte Bella fitness center includes an aerobic dance studio, weight-room, massage treatment rooms, pool, spas and six tennis courts. BMG Architecture and Planning, Tucson, Ariz., designed the single-story wood frame and stucco building to reflect the communities' Spanish-inspired architecture. Kimberly Timmins Interiors of Denver, is the interior designer.

Buesing Moves

Buesing Corp. recently moved into a new, state-of-the-art facility. The site features a 7,000-sq.-ft. office and a 12,000-sq.-ft. maintenance facility. The address for the new corporate headquarters is 3045 S. 7th St., Phoenix. The phone and fax numbers remain the same.