T-Gen Breaks Ground

A new phase in downtown Phoenix development - both in real estate and technology - recently started after Gov. Janet Napolitano broke ground for the International Genomics Consortium/Translational Genomics Research Institute Headquarters.

As the first phase of a master plan, the IGC/TGen headquarters will consist of a six-story, 170,000-gross-sq.-ft. biomedical laboratory and office building. The building area will accommodate space for both institutions to perform all primary research activities on site. Additional needs will be accommodated with expansion to adjacent new buildings as suggested in the site concept plan.

The total project cost will not exceed $46 million. Completion is slated for November 2004. SmithGroup is the designer, engineer, lab planner and interior designer for the project and DPR Inc. is the general contractor.

McCarthy Lands Promenade Project

McCarthy Building Companies, Inc. has been selected as the general contactor for the $54 million Promenade Corporate Center in Scottsdale.

Located at the southeast corner of Frank Lloyd Wright Boulevard and Scottsdale Road, Promenade Corporate Center is a 350,000-sq.-ft., mixed-use office and high-end retail complex. In tribute to noted architect Frank Lloyd Wright, who spent half of his life in Scottsdale, Promenade Corporate Center will feature a 125- foot-tall spire and visitor's center, both original Wright designs.

Developed by The Pederson Group, Promenade Corporate Center is the final phase to the 1 million-sq.-ft., class "A"office, entertainment and shopping complex that will serve as the gateway to Scottsdale.

Construction will begin immediately and should follow a schedule of approximately 12 months.

Jokake to Redevelop Stockyards

Jokake Real Estate Services Inc., a division of The Jokake Companies, has announced plans to develop a seven-acre mixed-use project at the site of the historic Stockyards district, which includes the popular Stockyards Restaurant at Washington and 50th streets.

The Stockyards redevelopment project will include 93,000 sq. ft. of office, commercial, restaurant and retail space in four buildings.

The Jokake Companies will relocate its corporate headquarters to the new office building from their current location at 28th Street and Camelback Road in Phoenix, upon completion of the facility. Groundbreaking will take place in November 2003 with occupancy by August 2004.

Weitz Wins Multiple Projects

The Weitz Company recently announced the company has started construction on three new retail centers: Peoria Station, Surprise Marketplace and Zocallo Shops Phase II.

The 40,700-sq.-ft. Peoria Station is located at 10260 N. 67th Avenue in Peoria, Ariz. This $2.7 million project will feature various retail tenants in addition to an 11,700-sq.-ft. Tutor Time Daycare. The majority of the work will be masonry and wood construction. Bollinger + Cardenas Architects Inc. and Robert Kubicek Architects & Associates Inc., both of Phoenix will serve as the architects and PDG America is the developer. Construction is scheduled to be complete by November 2003.

Butler Design Group will serve as the architects for Surprise Marketplace and CC & G Strategic Investments is the property owner. The budget on this project is $2.5 million and construction will be finished by October 2003.

Weitz is on site constructing Phase II of the Zocallo Shops. The new addition will include a 13,400-sq.-ft. shell building with site improvements.

Butler Design Group of Phoenix is the architect and Scottsdale Place LLC is the owner. The budget for this project is $1 million and construction is scheduled to be complete by October 2003.

Homebuilder Donates $50 million to ASU

Ira A. Fulton, chief executive officer of Fulton Homes, Inc. recently announced a $50 million gift to the Arizona State University Foundation for the benefit of the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences.

The gift will endow the Ira A. Fulton School of Engineering at Arizona State University.
The funds will provide funding for scholarships, fellowships, research programs and investments in faculty to enable the school of engineering to move from its position as a highly ranked U.S. program into the ranks of world-class institutions.

ART Architects Designing Pappas School

Architectural Resource Team, Inc. (ART Architects), in Phoenix, is currently designing the new K-6 Tempe Campus of the Thomas J. Pappas School for the Maricopa County Regional School District. The "Students First" funded school for 250 students is being designed with safety of the students in mind.

The school is currently under design and will start construction by the end of 2003 with a grand opening slated for June of 2004 and the summer semester. A donation campaign will begin in August 2003 to help construct and furnish the new school.

Nationwide Firm to Build in Scottsdale

Beneco, one of the nation's leading single source supplier of employee benefit programs for prevailing wage, open-shop construction companies recently announced plans for a new 15,500-sq.-ft. corporate headquarters building to be located at 9089 E. Bahia Drive in North Scottsdale.

Expected to be completed by January, the new building was designed by Archicon Architecture-Interiors of Phoenix. The contractor for the project is LGE Design Build of Tempe.