PHX Sky Train Breaks Ground, Federal Funds Delivered

The PHX Sky Train will connect METRO with Sky Harbor Airport’s East Economy Parking and Terminal 4 in Phoenix

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood presented a $10.5 million check to Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon for the completion of a taxiway reconstruction project on the northwest side of the Airport. This project could create 285 construction jobs.

The occasion also marked the 'official' groundbreaking and naming of Sky Harbor's automated train: the PHX Sky Train. Stage one of the PHX Sky Train will connect with METRO light rail and transport passengers and employees between 44th Street and Washington, East Economy Parking and Terminal 4. Stage one, which will be completed in 2013 is predicted to create up to 5,900 jobs.

Joint Venture to Develop Green Industrial Park

GWS Technologies Inc. has entered into a strategic partnership and joint venture with Sustainable Eco-Green Development Co. Inc. to develop a Green Industrial Park on approximately 1,000 acres adjacent to the Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport in Mesa. GWS will provide equipment and technology integration on the project, with initial cost estimates for solar equipment expected to exceed $4 million. Design work is underway for a ground-based solar power plant which will provide temporary power to the site and will ultimately be relocated as project construction begins to become a permanent rooftop solar power plant, supplying electricity to the Green Park.

SEDCO and GWS have also agreed to collaborate on a program to acquire existing businesses, products and technologies in the renewable energy field and then build facilities for those businesses in the Green Park.

SmithGroup Begins PVCC 'Q' Building Remodel

SmithGroup has begun design on the Paradise Valley Community College 'Q' Building Remodel, located at 32nd Street and Union Hills Drive in Phoenix.

The existing facility currently houses the county's George L. Campbell Branch Library and the Arizona Agribusiness & Equine Center charter school, as well as vacant tenant space.

The 18-classroom 'Q' Building Remodel will support PVCC's math department and general instructional classes, as well as include a learning center to support the college's Continuing Education as well as its Teaching & Learning program for faculty. The roughly 48,000-sq-ft renovation will be comprised mostly of interior renovations but may include exterior modifications to help re-orient the facility to the existing PVCC campus.

The construction manager at risk for the PVCC 'Q' Building Remodel is Jokake Construction. The construction budget is approximately $9 million with an estimated opening in fall 2010. Funding for the project was approved by Maricopa County residents in 2004 as part of the Maricopa County Community College District bond program.

New Phoenix Electrical JATC Facility Opens

The Phoenix Electrical Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee facility includes offices, classrooms and shops for hands-on training.

The Phoenix Electrical Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee facility recently opened, providing administration offices, classrooms and a large practical shop for hands on training for the JATC's electrical apprenticeship program, training the work force for the electrical construction industry. Robert Brown Architects provided complete design and construction administration services and W.E. O'Neil was the general contractor.

This 20,750-sq-ft, two-story facility was designed with standard and split-faced masonry and steel floor and roof structure. Design features include the subtle integration of electrical symbols typically found in construction documentation and detectable only by those in the industry, including conduit and wiring, fused disconnect switches, fused breakers and transformers.

Engineers included Caruso Turley Scott, Mechanical Designs, Norman Engineering and Hawkins Design Group.

Gaylord Resort and Convention Center Receives Greenlight

The Gaylord Resort and Convention Center in East Mesa received approval at a March 10 citywide election with 84% of the vote in favor of the use of a bed tax for the promotion of tourism and gave the green light for the construction of the largest resort and convention center in Arizona.

The 1,200-room Gaylord Resort and Convention Center will be at the center of the Mesa Proving Grounds Resort Core, which will also include an additional resort, an 18-hole golf course and retail space. The core is projected to generate 8,521 construction jobs and more than 4,000 permanent jobs. Private upfront investment could total $1 billion.

To submit New Mexico, Arizona or Nevada news items or press releases, email the editor at scott_blair@mcgraw-hill.com.