When done well, revitalization efforts breathe new life into once-dormant properties, serving as sources of inspiration, stimulation and economic vitality for the entire community. Perhaps no development or construction project in recent memory has done this more so than SkySong, The ASU Scottsdale Innovation Center, which is one of the most diverse and ambitious projects in Arizona history.
Transitioning the formerly defunct retail property into a national epicenter of technology and innovation didn’t happen overnight, though – here’s a closer look at the transformation.
The Challenge
When the ASU Foundation named Plaza Companies the master developer and property manager for SkySong, it tasked the real estate firm with transitioning the ideally located, but decaying property into a global center of innovation. It needed to be a space that would not only inject countless new job opportunities into the area, but also help cement Scottsdale and the Southwest’s emerging status as a center for cutting-edge technology, development and invention.
Already an industry leader in the construction, management, leasing and development of medical, commercial, office and other real estate projects throughout the region, Plaza companies stepped up to the plate, paving the way for the project that now has an anticipated $39-billion output over the next 30 years.
The Results
Now one of the region’s most recognizable architectural icons, SkySong and its 1.2-million square feet of office and retail space house some of the world’s brightest minds and biggest players in technology, entrepreneurship, innovation and education. The dynamic and centrally located mixed-use development serves as an economic engine for Scottsdale, Phoenix and the greater East Valley, delivering more than 2,500 job opportunities while concurrently training the minds of tomorrow through its partnership with Arizona State University.
The Applause
As a new center of innovation emerges, to, so, too, does a model for sustainability. SkySong has earned an impressive list of awards for its sustainable building, construction and other efforts as development remains ongoing, among them LEED Silver Certifications from the U.S. Green Building Council and Energy Star Designations from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The project also earned a “Best of NAIOP” nod by the National Association of Office and Industrial Properties-Arizona Chapter, and an Award of Merit from Valley Forward, among multiple other acknowledgements.
Need a hand navigating your next development project, construction project or revitalization effort? Call Plaza companies at 623.972.1184 or email info@plazaco.com.