Apartment Complex Planned in Mesa

A joint venture of Chicago-based ORIX Real Estate Equities, Inc. and Cleveland, Ohio-based Zaremba Group, LLC has closed on the purchase of a 13-acre vacant site in Mesa, Ariz., and plans to develop a Class A apartment complex containing 280 units.

Groundbreaking is expected to take place early in 2005.

Waterford at Superstition Springs will include 280 garden-style apartment buildings. Among the 280 apartments will be one-, two- and three-bedroom residences with high-end features and finishes throughout. Amenities will include a pool, fitness center, clubhouse and business center. The property also will include approximately 10,000 sq. ft. of retail and office space fronting Southern Avenue.

The architect is Todd & Associates, Inc. of Phoenix. Zaremba Contractors of Cleveland, in conjunction with Clark-Wayland Builders, L.C. of Phoenix will construct the project.

Work to Start on New Community

Trillium Residential recently announced its latest construction loan closing. The loan, valued at $25 million, closed on Trillium's newest community in North Phoenix. Located on the northeast corner of 7th Street and the 101 freeway, the property will be developed with 360 class "A" apartment units.

Construction will begin in Spring 2005 with an opening and first occupancy scheduled by the end of the same year. The property is situated on a 27-acre site. About 11.3-acres will incorporate the new community. The adjacent 15.2 acres is also owned by Trillium, which will be developed later.

Science Building Takes Shape

Hardison-Downey Construction Inc. recently started work on the Interdisciplinary Science and Technology Building III at the ASU East campus in Mesa. The $12 million, 34,600-sq.-ft. facility will be home to the Applied Biological Sciences Research Laboratories, Applied Cognitive Sciences Center, Healthy Lifestyles Center, and Plant Made Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturing Facility. The building will be ready for occupancy by January 2006. As with ASU's newer research facilities, the university is seeking Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver Certification. Jones Studios designed the project.

Hardison/Downey construction, inc. was also recently chosen as the general contractor for Main Street Commons by Woodbine Southwest Corporation.

The 540,000-sq.-ft. upscale retail and office development will be the first of its kind in the Town of Gilbert, Ariz.

Groundbreaking for Main Street Commons, which will ultimately feature a combination of upscale and family-friendly stores and restaurants, is planned for mid-2005.

The 45-acre project will open in phases, with the first wave of tenants slated for a late 2006 opening.

The architect for the project is Nelsen Architects of Scottsdale, Ariz.

LGE Design Build Announces 14 New Projects

LGE Design Build recently announced that it signed 14 new projects in September and October valued at a total of $49.1 million. The projects in Scottsdale, Mesa, Chandler, Tempe, Surprise and Gilbert total more than 534,000 sq. ft. and include facilities in the office, showroom, retail, automotive and warehouse segments.

The 14 new projects bring LGE's 2004 totals to new record highs. LGE has now signed 57 deals in 2004 covering a total of 1.8 million sq. ft., with a combined value of $150 million. The September and October period also represented the strongest back-to-back months in the company's history.

The new projects signed by LGE include the 83rd & Hayden Development in Scottsdale, a 65,000-sq.-ft. showroom valued at $10.1 million; The Offices at Bell & Tatum in Phoenix, a $7.7 million office complex covering 104,000 sq. ft.; Mesa's Grove Business Center, a $5.3 million, 73,000-sq.-ft. office complex; the $3.4 million, 76th & Montecristo office complex which will encompass 24,000 sq. ft.; and Baywood, a 41,000-sq.-ft. office complex in Mesa valued at $3.2 million.

Commerce Center Under Construction

The Weitz Company recently announced that construction has started on the Pinnacle Peak Commerce Center.

Work began on two single story speculative office buildings that will feature concrete tilt-panels, steel joists with a panelized roof. The buildings are for office and/or warehouse use. Butler Design Group is the architect and Orsett/23 L.L.C. is the owner.

The Weitz Co. also recently started construction on phase one of Sky Harbor's busiest terminal.

Terminal 4 handles 77 percent of Sky Habor's passenger traffic and is home to America West, Southwest, Aeromexico, British Airways and Hawaiian Airlines. Weitz began renovation on the 128,500-sq.-ft. terminal in August and expects to complete the project in July 2007. TransSystems Corporation serves as the architect for the $25 million project and Minnesota Architectural Alliance is the design architect.

Class A Office Work Starts

The Stapley Corporate Center in Mesa recently started construction. The project consists of two Class A office buildings with two retail components located adjacent to existing office buildings that opened in 2001.

The negotiated, design/build project is the collaboration of DESCO Southwest/Development Company, Archicon/Design Company and The Beck Group.

T-P Acoustics Wins Several Jobs

Phoenix, Arizona T-P Acoustics, Inc. has been awarded contracts to install acoustical ceilings in several metropolitan Phoenix automotive dealerships including: Gilbert, Ariz.-based Berge Mazda; Gilbert, Ariz.-based Desert Kia; Avondale, Ariz.-based Avondale Toyota; Phoenix, Ariz.-based Bill Luke Chrysler/Jeep.

The work is being performed for Adaptive CM, LLC.

Steel Project Awarded