NAIOP Arizona’s new CEO outlines opportunities and challenges to watch in commercial real estate
CHANGING THE LANDSCAPE: ReDiscover Logistics is ViaWest Group’s transformative industrial redevelopment at I-17 and Loop 101 in Phoenix’s Deer Valley submarket. Spanning 808,448 square feet across four Class A buildings, the project reimagines a former Intel and Discover site into a state-of-the-art logistics and light manufacturing campus. (Image provided by ViaWest Group)
By KYLE BACKER
evelopment is a complicated endeavor requiring coordination across multiple disciplines, companies and governmental entities. That’s why associations like NAIOP exist to bring industries together, offering opportunities for professionals to network, learn from one another and build solidarity around legislative issues. Every organization needs a leader who can rally people together, draw on a deep well of expertise and provide a clear vision for the future — and NAIOP is no exception.
AZRE magazine sat down with Cheryl Lombard, who started her tenure as the CEO of NAIOP in September, to learn more about her thoughts on leading NAIOP, the state of development and being back in the desert. The following responses have been edited for clarity and length.
AZRE: For those who don’t know, can you tell us a bit about your background?
Cheryl Lombard: My career has been focused on how we grow, encompassing critical areas such as water, conservation, environmental protection, infrastructure and more recently, energy. I have been fortunate enough to apply this expertise across the U.S., representing both energy and real estate development sectors.
This includes a decade with The Nature Conservancy and leading Valley Partnership here in Arizona. Most recently, I spent the past two years in Washington, D.C., at a conservative clean energy think tank, where I led a cross-functional team focused on advancing power, infrastructure, and minerals policy in Congress and across various states. My work there included testifying before Congress, speaking on numerous panels, and drafting federal permitting and judicial reform legislation.
AZRE: What drew you to NAIOP as an organization you’d be interested in leading?
CL: It is incredibly meaningful for me to return to Arizona — this state has given me so much personally and professionally. I’m eager to get to work building on NAIOP’s strong foundation and helping shape what’s next.
Arizona is at a pivotal moment. The growth we’re experiencing is historic, and commercial real estate is right at the center of it. That means our industry has a major responsibility to lead with vision and purpose.
NAIOP Arizona already has a strong track record of advocacy and influence. My goal is to build on that — amplifying our voice at the Capitol, with cities and our Congressional delegation, expanding engagement across the state, and making sure we’re driving the big conversations around growth and infrastructure.
We will be focused on implementing a bold strategic plan, enhancing our events and member experience, growing our sponsorships and solidifying NAIOP as the premier voice for commercial real estate in Arizona.
AZRE: What role do partnerships play in lifting up the industry?
CL: Commercial real estate doesn’t operate in a vacuum. Every project intersects with public policy — whether it’s water, permitting, energy or transportation. That’s where I’ve spent my career, and that’s where NAIOP can have a powerful impact.
I believe in results-driven advocacy and collaborative leadership. That means listening to our members, engaging with stakeholders, and delivering on a clear vision that supports responsible growth and economic success.
Beyond metropolitan areas, significant opportunities exist for sustainable growth. NAIOP focuses on fostering connections, advocating for interests and facilitating learning. We can leverage these resources to align with the statewide opportunities for employment and economic prosperity, ensuring the flourishing of all of Arizona.
AZRE: Can you talk more about NAIOP’s advocacy efforts?
CL: First, I’m glad to be working with NAIOP’s Director of Government Relations John Baumer. Having someone with his skills in-house is a great resource for the organization. I have a background in policy, but we’re a statewide organization, and we want to be connecting with not only
our state legislature, but key cities and our federal delegation about how we can continue to grow.
There’s plenty of opportunity here in Arizona, but there are also hurdles to overcome. John and I have been talking a lot about energy demand. We’ve done a great job as a state attracting companies like TSMC, but now we need to focus on energy development. That means working with the utilities and our rural co-ops on how to provide affordable, reliable power to everyone. Water is another important topic that we want to partner with people around the state to tackle.
AZRE: You mentioned meeting with Arizona’s Congressional delegation. Does NAIOP work on federal issues?
CL: Our role at NAIOP is to represent the industry in these conversations about how legislation at all levels might affect our state. For example, the reconciliation bill in Congress reauthorized Opportunity Zones and included a lot of tax benefits to encourage economic development in rural areas. John and I are looking at how that tool can be used here and plan to sit with Sandra Watson at the Arizona Commerce Authority to learn more about their plans. There’s also brownfield legislation that needs to be reauthorized and next year Congress will start working on transportation reauthorization, which we’ll be helping with as well.
AZRE: NAIOP has a large membership base — some are competitors and others may have differing views on what the best course of action is. How do you present a unified voice on behalf of the industry?
CL: All trade associations have to grapple with this, and it can be challenging on the policy side. But that’s why the first thing I’m going to do is put together a strategic plan so we come to an agreement among our board and
members on what we stand for. That helps bring focus and alleviate some of those conflicts as members take part in those discussions.
AZRE: What is your sense regarding the health of the industry as we start wrapping up 2025?
CL: Over the past decade or so, Arizona has implemented great policies around taxes and regulations at both the state and municipal levels. The groundwork laid thanks to measures like Prop 479 will set the Valley up for the next 20 years in terms of transportation infrastructure. But we still need to take a closer look at how to build and maintain roads across the state.
Right now, we have amazing energy resources, but what’s next? We need sustainable, affordable power — how will we move it around? Building transmission infrastructure is similar to highway construction since it takes some time, but people have different reactions when they see power lines going up.
That said, coming from Washington, D.C., where businesses and residents have to deal with regulatory burdens and instability, it’s clear to me that Arizona has created an environment where economic success can continue. More can be done to ensure predictability across all layers of government, but it’s nice to be outside the Beltway and back in a place where good policy and regulations — meaning less of them — are helping foster growth and innovation.
AZRE: Any parting thoughts you’d like to share about returning to the Valley?
CL: I went to college in Washington D.C., and it’s a lovely place. I learned a lot that I will apply in this new role, but I’m so happy to be back in Arizona. I missed our beautiful sunsets, my friends and the development community as a whole. I’m privileged to be here and getting to focus on commercial development.
By KYLE BACKER
LUX BUTLER
Between the mundane requirements of life and the pressures of a demanding career, blank space on the calendar is a rare sight for those in the commercial real estate industry. Prioritizing participation in an association like NAIOP can be challenging when a lengthy task list awaits, but investing the extra effort can pay dividends over the long term.
AZRE magazine sat down with eight NAIOP members to learn more about their relationship to the association, how they’ve grown their careers from getting involved, the benefits of networking with competitors and what trends they’re seeing in the market. Responses have been edited for clarity and length.
Meet these professionals on the pages that follow:
ASHLEY HOFFMAN, Layton Construction
BRYCE TERVEEN, Colliers
CHUCK CAREFOOT, Ryan Companies US
JAMIE GODWIN, Stevens-Leinweber Construction
JIM ROLAND, Alcorn Construction
JOHN ORSAK, Lincoln Property Company
KOREY WILKES, Butler Design Group
TOM JARVIS, Willmeng Construction
Ashley Hoffman Director of business development
Layton Construction
AZRE: How long have you been a member of NAIOP?
Ashley Hoffman: I’ve been a member of NAIOP for 14 years. I started off my career in commercial furniture, and my focus was finding new business. Where do you find those people that are going to be occupying office buildings? The natural landing place was NAIOP, so I started off like most people — not knowing anyone and trying to figure out how everything works. I quickly discovered just how connected everybody is within the association and why it was so meaningful to them.
I dove right in and ended up serving on all the different events committees, then sat on the steering committee for the Developing Leaders program, which helps professionals age 35 and under grow. In 2016, I was named Developing Leader of the Year, which was so great. I’ve since aged out of Developing Leaders, but now I feel like my calling is to help the younger folks get more involved in the organization when they show an interest in it.
AZRE: Life gets busy for all of us, both in our personal and professional lives. Why invest so much time into NAIOP?
AH: My answer now might be a little different than it would’ve been 14 years ago. When I was younger, I knew I just needed to be there and the rest would follow, since I was more focused on building business relationships than anything else.
Now I show up because I want to, but I also feel like when I attend an event, I’m helping an organization that has given so much to me for so long. I can’t overstate just how deep the roots run in NAIOP. I’ve had relationships that started off with a handshake grow into lifelong friendships. I’m still doing business with some of the people I met at my first NAIOP mixer 14 years ago.
AZRE: Are there any trends in the market you’d like to share with readers?
AH: Electrical gear is still driving the schedule, which is important to know. When we start on a job, we always ask when the client wants to open their doors so we can order that equipment in time. Otherwise, construction costs continue to be more favorable. Even with all the talk around tariffs, those headlines don’t seem to be affecting prices much.
We’re also seeing more interest in million-square-foot-plus industrial in the West Valley. A lot of them are build-to-suits, meaning these businesses really want to sink their teeth into the region. The East Valley, however, is overbuilt with small bay and multitenant flex industrial in my opinion, so I expect that area will cool off for a bit, but there are still people who want to be in the West Valley.
To do more than build. To create. To innovate. And to do it with a holistic, intelligent balance of art and science that’s unmatched anywhere. We see our work through the eyes of the people who will use them every day. Through their eyes, we see places of entertainment, education, innovation, technology, healing and research. The result? Powerful structures with impacts that reach far beyond these walls.
Korey Wilkes, principal, Butler Design Group
AZRE: How long have you been a part of NAIOP?
Korey Wilkes: When I joined Butler Design Group in ’99, the company was already a member of NAIOP, so since then. The organization does a lot for the industry, like promoting legislation that creates a positive development environment. From a social standpoint, NAIOP provides a great opportunity to make connections — developers, brokers, contractors and design professionals all attend events together, so we build relationships with one another.
AZRE: How long have you been in a leadership role at NAIOP?
KW: I previously served on the Night at the Fights committee, but I was just appointed to the board of directors this last year. When that happened, I was asked to join a committee, and working on the Best of NAIOP interested me most. It has always been a great event, but I wanted to bring some fresh ideas.
We ended up transitioning from a typical ballroom to a theater, and that was a significant shift in venue. But working with the committee and putting together some skits for the event was something I really enjoyed. It all ended up becoming a bit of a side job there for a while — and there a few hiccups the night of — but I think it was received well by the majority of people. Now we have an opportunity to improve again next year.
AZRE: What industry trends should readers be following?
KW: Five years after the pandemic started, there has been a healthy shift back into brick-and-mortar retail. We’re even seeing more power centers — a term that we hadn’t used for the last five to eight years. We’re working on a handful of those, mostly on the outskirts of town, but there are few infill power centers that are chasing rooftops. Some office development is happening, but it’s niche and in specific subregions.
During the pandemic, about 75% our work was industrial, but we’re as close to having a balanced portfolio as we have been in a long time, which is good for us because we want a stable, mixed profile. Industrial has slowed a little due to some oversaturation, but there’s still a lot of infill and a good amount of speculative development going on. The TSMC effect has helped keep demand going, which has been huge for the Valley and our business.
The unfortunate thing is we have a bad rap regarding water, but the reality is that Arizona has some of the best water policies in the U.S. — if not the world. I don’t know of another place that requires a 100-year guarantee for water supplies. Overall, we’ve had some great legislation over the years, and I’d like to think NAIOP was part of that.
AZRE: How long have you been a member of NAIOP?
Chuck Carefoot: I’ve been fortunate enough to be involved with NAIOP for around 29 years. I remember the first luncheon I attended — there were about 50 of us representing the whole industry. I was only six months into my career at Ryan Companies, and I’ve been going ever since. I’ve really enjoyed my years with NAIOP, and I hope to have many more — maybe not another 29, but certainly 10 or so.
AZRE: How has NAIOP supported your professional growth?
CC: NAIOP has something to offer at all stages of your career. At the beginning, it’s a place to grow your confidence and learn from those around you. After you gain some experience, there are educational programs that expand your skills and help develop relationships with your industry peers. Once you’re a more tenured professional, you get to meet people earlier in their career through NAIOP, which is a great mentoring opportunity and a way to give back some of what you received from others. There’s also the perk of interacting with new businesses when they come to town and join the organization.
AZRE: Are there any benefits to being in an association with companies who may be your competitors in the market?
CC: Absolutely. At the end of the day, we’re all competitors to a certain extent, but NAIOP helps us all build relationships with one another. That creates a healthy alignment where there’s a willingness to learn from each other and make our collective marketplace stronger.
AZRE: What is a trend you think readers should be aware of?
CC: Since the Phoenix Metro is still a new marketplace, we don’t have the kind of real estate blight that exists in some older communities across America.
That said, we need to be diligent and not allow that to happen. The biggest thing Ryan is doing today that we weren’t as much 20 years ago is the redevelopment of our city. Instead of continuing to build further out, there’s a emphasis on redeveloping existing sites into new, vibrant properties. That helps avoid the blight that could come to a community if we let an old, non-functioning building just sit there.
Generally, jurisdictions welcome the redevelopment of difficult assets. I think we’re in a great position to improve infill sites through good, constructive redevelopment. We need to focus on that here in the Valley — if we drag our heels and don’t allow this work to happen, we could end up in a situation where blight starts to compound as it has in other cities in the U.S.
AZRE: Why do you believe industry associations like NAIOP are important for professionals and companies?
Jim Roland: Across all industries, associations are critical to the advancement and general knowledge of company staff. These groups help grow new talent, and they give an opportunity for seasoned professionals to mentor the next generation. Any parent wants their kids to be successful, so why wouldn’t you want the same for your business?
NAIOP is composed of the who’s who of deal makers in Arizona — developers, brokers, general contractors, architects and trade partners. Being involved lets you interact with these folks in both formal and informal settings, which broadens your reach and helps you make decisions on who to work with.
AZRE: What impact does NAIOP’s advocacy efforts have on commercial real estate as a whole?
JR: I think the legislation NAIOP promotes does more than just help our industry — it strengthens our community and benefits the general public. The growth that has happened across the state is because we’ve created an enticing market for companies to relocate to or start up. When these businesses come here, they need buildings to run their operations. That creates jobs and further development, which helps everyone.
AZRE: What trends are currently having the biggest effect on the market?
JR: The No. 1 thing on the forefront of people’s minds is the tariffs. Every financial institution, developer and contractor wants to protect themselves from the costs associated with those. That’s led to lots of conversations with trade partners and their suppliers when a project is getting started to figure out how to mitigate the impacts. All that has to happen up front so we can come to an understanding before promises are made.
Interest rates are another topic talked about frequently in our world. Cutting interest rates frees up money and makes deals happen — meaning we get exponentially busier. I’m pretty confident that when interest rates come down, Phoenix will be at the center of growth for the national economy because of the development that happened before rates went up.
Power is the other big concern considering all the data centers coming to town, as well as the manufacturing facilities. That has put a strain on the system, but the power authorities are working hard on that.
Jamie Godwin, president and CEO, Stevens-Leinweber Construction
AZRE: How did you first get involved with NAIOP?
Jamie Godwin: I moved to Arizona in 1996 and took a job with Opus, and they were already a part of NAIOP, so I’ve been participating nearly 30 years and I’m on my third year with the board of directors.
When I came to Stevens-Leinweber in 2014, the company was not engaged with the association. Changing that was a high priority for me since I knew it was a great way to get our name out there. Stevens-Leinweber has been in the market as a tenant improvement contractor for a long time, but prior to me joining, business attraction came mostly through word of mouth. Coming to the company, I saw that as a growth opportunity, and NAIOP is the best place to connect with people in the industry.
AZRE: What value does NAIOP bring to the commercial real estate industry as a whole?
JG: NAIOP is at the forefront of legislative advocacy for commercial real estate, and there has been a significant enhancement of those efforts with bringing John Baumer [NAIOP’s Director of Government Relations] on board as an inhouse lobbyist. Suzanne Kinny did a good job even prior to John, and it only got better when he started. I’m also excited to have Cheryl Lombard as the new CEO because of her background in this arena and the connections she brings with her.
All that said, NAIOP is engaged with government entities and trying to help shape what the legislative landscape looks like for our industry. There are always policy initiatives out there that will either help us or hurt us, and NAIOP truly is the organization working for the benefit of everyone in the industry — whether you’re a member or not.
AZRE: What are some trends folks should be aware of?
JG: In the last six or so months, there has been an increase in larger sized office tenant improvement projects, with clients taking full floors and larger buildings leasing upwards of 75,000 square feet to a single user. We went a long time coming out of the pandemic without that kind of movement in the market as businesses hunkered down and evaluated remote work plans.
A lot of companies have since made the decision that working from home isn’t the best structure and want people back in the office. They need the appropriate square footage to support that, so we’re seeing bigger deals happening out in the market, which is a positive change.
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John Orsak, executive vice president, Lincoln Property Company
AZRE: When did you start participating in NAIOP?
John Orsak: I moved to Arizona in 2006, and it was shortly after that I became involved with NAIOP. From that point on, I’ve always stayed close to the organization, even when I’ve transitioned to other firms. I’ve sat on the membership, public policy, Night at the Fights and Thursday Night Live committees, then was asked to join the executive committee.
In 2024, I served as the chairman, which was an incredible capstone achievement. This is my last year on the board before I go back to being a member at large, which is unfortunate because spending time with my fellow board members and the NAIOP staff is so special to me. But having those limits in place is a good thing. It means the association is always evolving as the composition of the board changes.
When you’re in the business for a long time, you develop a sense of the quality of these associations. Between the membership, programming, events and overall structure, NAIOP has always been second to none.
AZRE: What are some of the benefits engaging with NAIOP?
JO: That’s an easy one. I always tell people, ‘Look, you don’t have to believe me but go to one of our events and see for yourself — everyone that you want to know is there.’ Even though NAIOP is at its core a developer-focused organization, our chairman this year, Phil Breidenbach, is a broker. Other folks on the board are engineers, bankers and contractors. That’s because we want everyone within our industry to be on the same page, have the chance to network and share in the opportunity to shape public policy.
And, candidly, all your competitors are already here, so you can join the party or not. And the only reason I can say that is because NAIOP has been built into a strong, well-respected organization. There’s no arguing the facts that getting involved brings a tremendous amount of value.
AZRE: Is there anything going on in the industry you think readers should be aware of?
JO: Everyone needs to pay attention to our regulatory environment. One of the reasons why we’ve notched so many wins in Arizona is because we enjoy a very business friendly market. That has started to erode a little bit, so folks should be cognizant of what our elected officials are doing. It may seem like subtle shifts here and there, but we don’t want to wake up one day asking ourselves how we ended up with an overly burdensome regulatory framework that makes it hard for people to do business here.
Tom Jarvis Partner and vice president of pre-lease estimating Willmeng Construction
AZRE: How did you first get involved with NAIOP?
Tom Jarvis: I was hired by Willmeng in the fall of 2004, and at that time we specialized in commercial tenant improvements. We only had nine employees and a handful of really good clients, and one of them was Lincoln Property Company. The head of the firm, David Krumweide, advised myself and James Murphy that we needed to get involved with this organization called NAIOP. I remember the first event I went to because I ran into some friends from college, so it felt right from the very beginning.
AZRE: You’ve gone from attending events to serving on the board and chairing committees. What motivated you to take on that level of commitment?
TJ: If I commit to doing something, whether it’s personally or professionally, I’m going to see it through. That means investing my time and energy, but I think that’s the right approach to take in life. Not only that, but NAIOP has given me far more in my career than I could ever repay through volunteering. I’ve made friends, met like-minded people to do business with — I even met my wife during a NAIOP event many years ago, so the organization will always have a special place in my heart because of that.
From a business perspective, Willmeng has grown into one of the largest general contractors in the state, and the relationships we’ve formed through NAIOP has allowed us to open offices throughout the region. Sure, some of our competitors are members too, but there will be a day where we need to stand by each other to fight a bill being considered at the state legislature. I don’t view being in an association with my competition as a threat — I see it as an opportunity to make Willmeng and our industry stronger.
AZRE: What industry trends should readers be watching?
TJ: Artificial intelligence is changing all our lives, and these advances will make the industry safer and more efficient. We’re getting extremely accurate information in real time, allowing us to provide better service to the developers and communicate more easily across the whole project team. That said, the labor shortage will continue to be a challenge as the baby boomer generation ages out of the workforce. As they do, we lose both a worker and the institutional knowledge they have.
But overall, Arizona is in a great position. As we go through deglobalization, international companies are choosing to open their facilities in our state more than ever before. Leaders of years past did an amazing job making sure Arizona can be great hosts to the businesses that want to come here.
Bryce Terveen Executive managing director Colliers
AZRE: How does NAIOP help build relationships with all the different players involved with commercial real estate?
Bryce Terveen: It takes specialties from many different parties to make our industry work, and having those contacts is what takes projects from inception to fulfillment. At the root of it, commercial real estate is a relationship business, and NAIOP facilitates those connections really well, and that’s never going to change. As you meet people in the community, you start to develop a sense of trust with them, and that helps spur more transactions than if everyone was siloed. If you don’t have those relationships, it makes being in this business harder than it already can be.
AZRE: Can you talk more about how the relationships NAIOP fosters can help working in commercial real estate a bit easier?
BT: The Developing Leaders program is a key part of this, because mentorship is paramount in this business. Starting out as a young professional in brokerage is like drinking from a fire house. The learning curve is daunting and you’re working 12hour days and weekends — there’s a lot to learn before you start making money.
The wisdom that seasoned brokers can provide is huge, whether you’re getting that through the Developing Leaders program, going to educational events or just being involved in the association. All of those things help younger professionals find their footing.
AZRE: What recent trends are shaping the market?
BT: There’s definitely some thawing happening in the office sector. The credit market has been fairly tight with interest rates, so we’ve seen office transactions be muted for the last two years. But companies are becoming more confident in their office usage as they come to the conclusion that it’s better for productivity and culture when people are working together in the same space, even if they don’t need as much square footage as they used to.
Some parts of the Valley are seeing some tenant activity as businesses make these decisions, and we’re still seeing the flight to quality. That happens during every down market because companies can take advantage of the current conditions to trade up into better Class A buildings — that’s happening in the Camelback Corridor, Scottsdale and Tempe. That trend will continue, but some submarkets will still have some pain. New office construction may not happen for some time, but as rents go up, more capital will get deployed to rehabilitate assets that need a little love.
By KYLE BACKER
Each session, Arizona’s lawmakers consider stacks of new bills and revisions to current statutes, each one having the capacity to reshape the lives of residents and the way companies conduct business. According to statistics from the Arizona State Legislature’s website, 1,854 bills, memorials and resolutions were introduced in 2025. Of those, 439 were delivered to Gov. Katie Hobbs, with only 265 signed into law.
With less than 15% of all items surviving the crucible of lawmaking, many industries rely on associations to advocate at the Capitol on their behalf. In Arizona’s commercial real estate sector, NAIOP seeks to do just that — even if the process isn’t as simple as “Schoolhouse Rock!” made it seem.
“If you’re not in this world, it’s easy to think that all you have to do is come up with a great idea, write a bill and it gets signed into law,” explains John Baumer, NAIOP’s director of
government relations. “But the reality is that it’s not common to be successful on the first try, especially with more nuanced and technical matters.”
Enacting policy is, by design, a deliberative and thorough process. For professionals like Baumer, the journey starts with convincing one of the 90 members of the legislature to sponsor a bill. It then gets sent to a committee where it must be voted on before being presented to the wider legislative body.
“There are many hurdles to overcome just to have something make it to the governor’s desk — and even then it can be vetoed,” Baumer says. “You need to engage with stakeholders from the start, whether they support or oppose your policy. If a committee chairperson agrees to hear the bill and you tell them you haven’t talked with these other groups, they may hold the bill or just vote it down.”
Lobbying often evokes images of smoke-filled rooms and closed-door
deals, but Baumer argues that much of what he does involves education. The real-world implications of a measure can get lost when looking at statutory language, so Baumer provides the commercial real estate industry’s perspective on issues so policymakers understand the positive or negative consequences of a piece of legislation.
“At the end of the day, there are 90 elected officials who need to be wellversed on the topics that come before them. That’s a lot of information for anyone to handle,” he continues. “We want to be a resource for legislators to help them create the best policy proposals possible.”
To authentically represent the views of its members, NAIOP has two groups dedicated to the association’s advocacy efforts. The Government Affairs Advisory Committee serves as the primary group tasked with monitoring
legislative issues and engaging with elected officials.
Those with a high level of commitment and expertise may be asked to take on a larger role in positioning NAIOP as the voice of commercial real estate by joining the Public Policy Executive Committee (PPEC).
Byron Sarhangian, partner at Snell & Wilmer and co-chair of the PPEC, helped form the committee with the goal of strengthening NAIOP’s ability to shape the lawmaking process. The PPEC works closely with NAIOP’s board of directors to identify legislative priorities, as well as other organizations such as GPEC and the Arizona Chamber of Commerce & Industry to find areas of alignment.
“Historically, the commercial real estate community has been underrepresented at the legislature. That’s unfortunate considering the industry’s significant role in the state’s economy,” he explains. “But we want our elected officials to have groups they can
go to and hear what the impact of their decisions will be, because oftentimes it’s not entirely clear to them.”
Developers, contractors and attorneys all participate in the committee, each bringing their own thoughts on how to address these problems. By having a diversity of perspectives, the PPEC is better equipped to uncover what friction points exist across the whole spectrum of commercial real estate rather than fixating on a particular subsector.
That collaboration, Sarhangian says, resulted in a list of what the group believes to be the top issues facing the industry from a legislative standpoint.
“We are advocating for down-thefairway solutions and talking with lawmakers about them, so at the very least our voice is being heard,” he says.
Thanks to a series of high-profile investments from world-renown companies, Arizona’s reputation as a fruitful place to operate is spreading. Maintaining that status is crucial as more businesses consider coming to the state, and beating the competition may require action from the legislature.
“Arizona is at an inflection point,” Baumer says. “There will come a time where more assistance from the government will be needed to land the next big project. Right now, we’re fairly limited in what we can offer as incentives for any type of development.”
For example, Baumer notes that Arizona stands alone as the only state without tax increment financing, or
TIFF, after the legislature did away with it after a brief period in place. Even though Arizona has enjoyed great success in attracting businesses, the minimal economic development tools available today may throttle growth in the future.
That’s why NAIOP supported Rep. Michael Carbone’s legislation during the 2025 session that would have applied transaction privilege tax (TPT) reimbursements towards the on-site infrastructure built for projects, so long as they met statutory criteria. Allowing developers to recoup the TPT generated from creating these core facilities would help drive down overall costs and make further growth more manageable.
“This would’ve ensured no one was running afoul of the state constitution’s gift clause while understanding that water and power infrastructure have become huge expenses,” Baumer says.
Due to concerns surrounding potential impacts to the state’s general fund, the effort stalled out. Despite it failing, Baumer is encouraged to see more policymakers recognize that with all the headwinds facing the commercial real estate industry — from interest rates squeezing capital markets to uncertainty around tariffs — more robust incentives for development may be needed.
Another effort NAIOP advocated for was reforming Arizona’s construction defect statutes. Sarhangian explains that the status quo is overly harsh towards sellers of condominiums, constricting housing supply during a time of scarcity. He notes that the goal isn’t to eliminate
consumer protections but create more thoughtful mechanisms that don’t make condo construction unfeasible.
As currently written, if a construction defect issue occurs within the prescribed eight-year timeframe, there are grounds to initiate a class action lawsuit. This exposure discourages many developers and lenders from building condos, functionally removing an entire residential asset class from the market.
“Luxury condos are going up, but that’s because those projects can absorb the high insurance costs required thanks to the construction defect laws,” Baumer adds. “If we want this type of housing to be attainable for middle-income Arizonans, something has to change.”
A menu of reforms was presented to lawmakers, including having an independent third-party review claims and empowering condo associations to vote on whether to pursue a construction defect lawsuit instead of just the board, as is the case today.
“We had a number of other provisions that would’ve cleaned up the process, but unfortunately, that did not go far this session,” Baumer continues. “There was a lot of vocal opposition going into the committee hearing, so we opted to pull the bill back. We’re taking this intervening period to engage with more stakeholders and
build a broader coalition to see what we can accomplish in 2026.”
While not every item backed by NAIOP survived the gauntlet of policymaking, the 2025 legislative session did not adjourn without any wins for the commercial real estate industry. Baumer highlights a pair of bills pertaining to utilities as two achievements worthy of celebration.
“One had to do with mitigating wildfire liability, and the other dealt with utility securitization,” he continues. “We’ve grown considerably over the last few years, causing the demand for energy to spike. Those new pieces of legislation will help utilities manage their current load requirements while also enabling them to finance future developments related to power generation. That will allow our economy to continue expanding.”
The signing of House Bill 2110 was another victory, which revised statutory language around converting commercial buildings into multifamily or mixed-use properties. But in the world of policymaking, success isn’t defined solely by what becomes law.
“We opposed the [Government Property Lease Excise Tax (GPLET)] reduction bill that passed this year, and we were very appreciative of Gov. Hobbs for vetoing it for the second year in a row,”
Baumer says. “It’s a nuanced issue, but the governor and her team understood that GPLET is one of the few economic development incentives we still have in the state, and the legislation would have severely limited the ability for state and local governments to use that tool.”
Even when the passage of an imperfect law seems imminent, there is an opportunity to provide input and reduce potential downsides. This session, a push to restrict the ownership of property by foreign adversaries found a strong base of support, but Baumer notes that the original wording of the bill would’ve led to unintended consequences.
By working with coalition partners and policymakers, amendments were made to the legislation providing clarifying language and minimizing the adverse impacts on business attraction, while still maintaining the core vision of the bill’s sponsors.
“The key to public policy is being willing to have those conversations and negotiate,” Baumer concludes. “Despite the widening political divide, 2025 was an overall good year for Arizona and the commercial real estate industry, and we’ll build on those successes again next year. It was a long six months of robust debate, but it ended with a significant state budget. No one walked away entirely happy with the result — but that means the negotiation process worked.”
By KYLE BACKER
For the uninitiated, the commercial real estate sector can seem byzantine considering all the strategic planning, coordination and timelines involved with successfully delivering a project to an end user. Both rookie and seasoned industry professionals must stay abreast of trends and develop a deeper understanding of how the sector works if they want to operate at the highest levels. To ensure the industry has the opportunity to grow these skills, NAIOP provides a suite of educational programming throughout the year.
“We often have three events a month about the business,” explains Cathy Teeter, managing director at CBRE and chair of NAIOP’s Education Committee. “The association’s member base is a deep well of expertise to draw from, so we try to spread that information out to everyone.”
Considering the varying work schedules of members, Teeter says these meetings may take place during
breakfast, lunch or happy hour to have the broadest reach possible. For example, NAIOP recently hosted a lunch and learn focused on Arizona State University’s role in the state’s burgeoning semiconductor market — something Teeter says has appeal for people no matter what point they’re at in their career.
“We try to make sure our programming falls in our lane, but it’s not too hard to find topics that people need to hear about,” she continues. “Finding speakers in some places is a challenge, but people are generous with their time and knowledge here in the Valley. That’s what makes us unique — we have a welcoming and generous community that wants to make the industry better for everyone.”
Some of the learning opportunities are more technical in nature, diving deeper into cap rates or how common area charges are billed back to tenants. Others offer continuing education units so folks can keep their
certifications up to date.
For members age 35 and under, Teeter says NAIOP’s Developing Leaders program helps young professionals establish a solid foundation for their careers. Participants attend skill-building seminars, social outings to build a peer network and have the chance to be mentored by industry veterans.
“Our organization is one where competitors can come and grow together,” she continues. “The truth is that we need each other to get deals done and learning with one another strengthens those bonds. Competitors sit side by side on committees, and having differing viewpoints makes sure our programming stays relevant and meaningful.”
While NAIOP’s educational events provide valuable industry insights, they do not award credits towards an advanced degree. That said, the
association has a relationship with ASU’s Master of Real Estate Development program for folks determined to grow their careers. Enrolled students are provided a NAIOP membership so they can begin engaging with the association — if they haven’t already.
“We believe it’s important to connect our students to the industry locally, nationally and globally,” explains Mark Stapp, executive director of the MRED program. “But we don’t just buy them a membership. We engage the association in multiple ways, including the Education Committee. Each semester, we conduct case studies where people from NAIOP come into the classroom to discuss a particular project in depth, that way students have a close-up look at how the industry operates.”
Stapp was originally part of the advisory group who helped ASU create this pathway and was later asked to lead it. At first, he didn’t intend to stay for long, but found the experience so personally and professionally rewarding
that he still hasn’t left. Through his commitment to the industry, Stapp was also named a Distinguished Fellow by the national NAIOP organization — one of only 14 across the nation.
“Being recognized by one of the leading organizations in the industry means an awful lot, but it’s also an honor for ASU’s real estate programs to have a Distinguished Fellow as part of their leadership,” Stapp says. “It signifies credibility, and I’m able to network with top minds locally and nationally. That helps me identify resources we may need and get connected with them.”
The MRED coursework is targeted at mid-career professionals who want to develop a well-rounded understanding of the entire development spectrum. Students are placed into small cohorts so they progress through the degree track together, with an emphasis on experiential learning.
“All programs across the country teach essentially the same things we do, but what sets us apart is how we teach
the concepts,” Stapp notes. “There are lectures, but students also have to take that knowledge and apply it to three realworld projects. We’re working with actual property owners to solve problems, and that’s the reason our learning outcomes are so bright.”
Stapp describes the relationship with the industry as a “two-way street” since employers benefit from the connections made with these highly motivated individuals. Each project students work on includes a review where they receive feedback from faculty, NAIOP members and participating firms. That way learners receive constructive criticism, and the wider commercial real estate community sees what students are capable of.
“The industry supports us because we are their farm team and employers know the quality of our students by engaging with us,” Stapp concludes. “Our objective is to produce the best talent possible, many of whom will go on to become leaders in the sector.”
By KYLE BACKER
Each year, members of NAIOP Arizona bring some of the best commercial real estate projects to market, from monumental industrial facilities to best-inclass office spaces — and everything in between. Here are a sampling of just 50 projects that broke ground, were under construction or delivered in 2025. All photos were provided to AZRE.
Developer: 55 Resort at McCormick Ranch
General Contractor: W.E. O’Neil Construction
Architect: Synectic Design
Notable subcontractors: Cruz Concrete, Global Roofing, Spectra
Electrical Services, Grounds Control
Location: 9449 N. 90th St., Scottsdale
General contractor: Ryan Companies US
Architect: Butler Design Group
Notable subcontractors: Riggs Companies, Shambaugh & Sons, Sunland Asphalt, Integrity Electrical Services, Deer Valley Plumbing Contractors
Location: 2350 & 2525 W. Corporate Center Dr., Phoenix
Start: January 2025
Completion: Q4 2025
Details: Comprised of two Class-A industrial buildings totaling more than 186,000 square feet, 17 North Corporate Center Phase II will provide users with several onsite features and accessibility to major freeways, residential options and proximity to TSMC.
Developer: LaPour & Holualoa Companies
General contractor: WhitingTurner
Architect: RSP Architects
Notable subcontractors: Studio 11, Colwell Shelor, IMEG, PK Associates, Sustainability
Engineering Group
Location: 5550 E. Crown Place, Phoenix
Start: June 2024
Completion: Q1 2027
Details: Located near City North at Desert Ridge, the 240-key property blends sophisticated business travel and wellness focused extended stay into one elevated experience. On the west, the AC Hotel offers a clean, modern experience designed around business
Start: August 2021
Completion: March 2025
Details: 55 Resort Scottsdale Apartments is a new, three-story, 102unit, age-restricted (55+) multifamily property totaling 143,032 square feet. The property is located right on the Scottsdale Greenbelt, making parks, restaurants and shopping easily accessible to residents.
travelers. On the east, Element by Westin serves as an all-suite, extended-stay hotel with a more residential feel and wellness-focus.
General contractor: Sun State Builders
Architect: Cawley Architects
Notable subcontractors: AF Steel Fabricators, Suntec Concrete, Hawkeye Electric
Location: 3550 E. Roeser Rd., Phoenix
Start: January 2025
Completion: December 2025
Details: This project is a distribution facility for two businesses within the AF Family of companies. With rapid expansion across a national market, AFD requested that Cawley Architects provide a design
for a showplace building within their Phoenix campus.
Developer: Baker Development
Architect: SmithGroup
Location: 52nd St. and McDowell Rd., Phoenix,
Start: January 2024
Completion: Q2 2026
Details: AZUL, or Arizona Unlimited, is a 62-acre redevelopment located in the heart of the Valley. A vision in the “Silicon Desert,” this prime site will be the future home to the next redefined corporate headquarters or news-breaking data center campus.
General contractor: Layton Construction
Architects: Niles Bolton Associates, Gensler (Design Architect)
Notable subcontractors: PK Associates, Sustainability Engineering Group
Location: 217 E. 7th St., Tempe
Start: April 2025 // Completion: July 2027
Details: Astria Tempe is a 27-story residential tower near ASU, offering 380 units and standout amenities like a rooftop pool, fitness center, co-working space and retail. With bold design and prime location, it meets growing housing demand while redefining Downtown Tempe living.
General contractor: Ryan Companies US
Architect: Butler Design Group
Notable subcontractors: Riggs Companies, Next Level Steel, Progressive Services, Integrity Electrical Services, Deer Valley Plumbing Contractors
Location: 6955 W. Morelos Place, Chandler
Start: February 2025
Completion: Q4 2025
Details: Chandler Freeways Business Park involves converting a former office building on site that was originally built by Ryan in 2004 into an 87,600-square-foot single-story Class-A industrial building. A second 102,875-square-foot Class-A industrial building will also be constructed. The project is located conveniently near the I-10 and Loop 202 freeways.
Developer: Merit Partners
General contractor: Stevens-Leinweber Construction
Architect: Butler Design Group
Notable subcontractors: Suntec Concrete, Denny Clark
Masonry & Concrete, 3D Pipelines, Brown & Sons Electrical Contracting, Triad Steel Services
Location: 5101 – 5501 N. Cotton Ln., Litchfield Park
Developer: Schnitzer Properties
Architect: VLMK Engineering + Design
Notable subcontractors: High Quality Electric, B&B Concrete Contractors, Structures Group, Markade Plumbing, Graydaze Contracting
Location: 2717 E. Corona Rd., Tucson
Start: November 2024
Completion: December 2025
Details: Corona Commerce Center is directly adjacent to Tucson International Airport and three miles to the I-10, providing fully built out spec suites, air-conditioned warehouse and move-in ready suites ranging from 12,000 square feet up to 102,000 square feet.
Completion: Q2 2025
Details: Occupying one mile along Loop 303, C|303’s 1.75-million-square-foot Phase I includes three Class A buildings, attracting news-making leases and state-of-the-art TIs for Steelcase, Dansons and PartsTown. Bookended by fulldiamond interchanges, C|303 easily accesses key distribution networks and 5-plus million residents within 30 minutes.
Developer: Schnitzer Properties
General contractor: Willmeng Construction
Architect: VLMK Engineering + Design
Notable subcontractors: Icon Electric, Panelized Structures, Suntec Concrete, Global Roofing Group, Graydaze Contracting
Location: 2730 E. Drexel Rd., Tucson
Start: December 2024
Completion: November 2025
Details: Drexel Commerce Center is a new industrial park in the Tucson market, consisting of two new, concrete tilt-up shell buildings designed for multi-tenant use. Drexel Commerce Center will have 184,080 square feet in two buildings. The facilities are designed to accommodate small businesses as well as tenants seeking larger warehouse distribution space.
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Developer: Catellus // General contractor: A.R. Mays Construction
Architects: Nelsen Partners, Field Paoli Architects
Notable subcontractors: PK Associates, Energy Systems Design, Dig Studio
Developer: Lincoln Property Company
General contractor: Layton Construction
Architect: Butler Design Group
Notable subcontractors: EPS Group, Suntec Concrete, Global Roofing, AF Steel Fabricators, Panelized Structures
Location: 13803 Northern Ave., Glendale
Start: Q4 2023
Completion: Q3 2025
Details: This 2.3-millionsquare-foot modern industrial project spans three buildings and 140 acres next to Luke Air Force Base. Developed in one phase, it holds a rare LEED Gold Certification, with quick regional access via Loop 303, I-10, and Northern Parkway. At full occupancy, it has the potential to create 1,300 high-quality jobs.
Railroad
Developer: City of Scottsdale
General contractor: Willmeng Construction
Architect: DWL Architects + Planners
Location: 7301 E. Indian Bend Rd., Scottsdale
Start: April 2024
Completion: June 2025
Details: Improvements include a new 7,500-squarefoot roundhouse housing a railroad-themed indoor play structure, public restrooms, offices, conference rooms and support spaces.
Business
Developer: Sunbelt Investment Holdings, Inc.
General contractor: Okland Construction
Architect: Balmer
Architectural Group
Location: 4152 E. Virginia St., Mesa
Location: 777 S. Novus Pl., Ste. 100, Tempe
Start: February 2024 // Completion: February 2025
Details: Novus Place is a vibrant mixed-use destination in Tempe’s Novus Innovation Corridor, featuring three Fox Restaurant Concepts establishments and the district’s iconic Shade Canopy.
Start: February 2025
Completion: February 2026
Details: Mesa Grandview Business Park is a LEEDcertified development offering innovative industrial design with modern architecture and site features. The three Class A industrial buildings will feature heavy power, speed bays and dock levelers.
Developer: Mill Creek
Residential
Architect: Davis Partnership Architects
Notable subcontractors: Encon Arizona, doing business as Tpac
Location: 7171 E. Paradise
Ln., Scottsdale
Start: January 2022
Completion: August 2025
Details: Modera Kierland features 360 modern apartments, offering studios, one-, two-, and threebedroom homes averaging 938 square feet. Located
near Scottsdale Quarter, residents enjoy proximity to upscale dining, shopping, golf and major freeways.
Mountain Modern Sedona
Developer: Crystal Creek
Capital Real Estate Advisors
General contractor: Chanen Construction
Architect: RSP Architects
Notable subcontractors: Berghoff Art Consultants, IMEG, PK Associates
Location: 95 Arroyo Pinon Dr., Sedona
Start: October 2023
Completion: April 2025
Details: Mountain Modern Sedona offers a launchpad for desert adventures with a streamlined design and a modern reinterpretation of the traditional American Travelodge. With 89 oversized rooms, studios, and suites across eight buildings, this boutique hotel welcomes travelers seeking an authentic Arizona experience.
General contractor: Alcorn Construction
Architect: Balmer Architectural Group
Notable subcontractors: Suntec Concrete, AF Steel Fabricators, Alta Glazing, Markade
Plumbing, AME Electrical
Location: 19051 S. Arizona Ave., Chandler
Start: May 2026
Completion: June 2026
Details: Chandler Innovation Park is a three-building industrial development on a 21-acre site totaling 327,776 square feet. It features 32-foot clear heights, dock-high and grade-level loading, and proximity to the Loop 202 and Chandler Airport.
General contractor: Primak
Construction Group
Architect: Barry R. Barcus Architect
Location: 3400 N. 89th St., Scottsdale
Start: November 2023
Completion: Q1 2025
Details: Chapman Ford Pro Elite is a 115,000-square-foot commercial sales and service facility located in Scottsdale. The property includes 48 large service bays that can service most vehicles, including Ford and non-Ford makes and models ranging from Class 1-7, as well as top-of-theline electric vehicles.
Ricardo M. | Senior Technician
Developer: Arizona Jewish Historical Society
General contractor: A.R. Mays Construction
Architect: Deutsch Architecture Group
Notable subcontractors: RVi Planning + Landscape
Architecture, Ardurra
Location: 122 E. Culver St., Phoenix
Developer: Pennrose and Butler
Housing
General contractor: W.E. O’Neil
Construction
Architect: Dekker
Notable subcontractors: Advanced
Mechanical, AME Electric, Ironhorse Plumbing, Mirasol Paint, Largo
Concrete
Location: 1510 E. Portland St., Phoenix
Start: August 2023
Completion: June 2025
Details: Garfield Terrace is a new fourstory, 61,148-square-foot affordable senior housing community featuring a mix of 48 one-bedroom and 12 studio apartments. Resident amenities include onsite parking, a leasing office, mail and parcel lockers, laundry rooms, a community room and a fitness center.
Start: August 2025
Completion date: October 2026
Details: The Hilton Family Holocaust Education Center is a new 32,000-square-foot facility in Phoenix featuring immersive Holocaust exhibits, expanded galleries, event space, archives and administrative offices, offering a state-of-the-art educational experience.
Developer: High Street Residential
General contractor: Wespac Residential
Architect: ESG Architecture & Design
Notable subcontractors: Suntec
Concrete, Hilty’s Electric, Re-Create Companies, Paul Johnson Drywall
Location: 10050 N. Scottsdale Rd., Scottsdale
Start: November 2024
Completion: January 2027
Details: Located at the southwest corner of Scottsdale Road and Gold Dust Avenue, this 215-unit, highend development features a mix of one-bedroom and two-bedroom units. The property will offer underground parking, a landscaped community space, resort-style pool and spa area, as well as a cutting-edge fitness center and dedicated yoga space.
Developer: ViaWest Group
General contractor: Stevens-Leinweber
Construction // Architects: McCall Associates, K&I Architects & Interiors
Notable subcontractors: Suntec
Concrete, Gunsight Construction, McCain Construction, Structures Group
Location: NWC of Sarival Ave. & Commerce Dr., Goodyear
Start: Q4 2023 // Completion: Q1 2025
Details: The final building at ViaWest’s fourbuilding, 500,000-square-foot Goodyear Crossing Industrial Park is nearby to Phoenix-Goodyear Airport, Loop 303, I-10 and MC 85. The 86,875-square-foot Class
A building caters to smaller enterprises seeking top-tier, mid-size space with stateof-the-art features, spec office and active park environment.
Developer: RED Development
General contractor: Layton Construction // Architect: SmithGroup
Notable subcontractors: S&H Steel, Diversified Interiors, Ryan Mechanical, Integrated Masonry
Location: 4625 E. Paradise Village Pkwy., Phoenix
Start: November 2024 // Completion: October 2025
Details: Fender’s new 77,000-square-foot, three-story headquarters will feature a custom-built sound studio, kaboom room, model shop and private practice spaces. Designed for innovation, the space includes a café, flexible work areas and outdoor amenities.
Edward Jones Generations
General contractor: Brien Contracting
Architect: Remiger Design
Notable subcontractors: LAS Energies, Wholesale Floors
Location: 18655 N. Claret Dr., Scottsdale
Start: March 2025
Completion: July 2025
Details: This Class A office build for Edward Jones features upscale finishes including designer wall coverings, custom wood ceilings and architectural baffles — all executed with precision to meet the client’s elevated brand standards and schedule expectations.
Developer: Formation Interests
General contractor: Willmeng Construction
Architect: Deutsch Architecture Group
Notable subcontractors: Kimley-Horn, RVi Planning + Landscape Architecture, Trademark Visual, AZ Specialty Demo
Location: 10200 N. 25th Ave., Phoenix
General contractor: P.B. Bell
Architect: BMA Architecture
Notable subcontractors: MT Builders, Anderson Design Company, EPS Group
Location: 4353 E Elliot Rd., Gilbert
Start: June 2023
Completion: June 2025
Details: Everly is a luxury apartment community in Gilbert featuring 236 units across multiple two-story residential and carriage-style buildings. The 16.7-acre development includes a mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom units and an amenityrich clubhouse.
Start: June 2025
Completion: November 2026
Details: This project will transform an obsolete office park into a Class A industrial park. Totaling 430,000 square feet in four buildings, Formation 17 will offer occupiers between 25,000 square feet and 200,000 square feet with unmatched amenities.
General contractor: Alcorn Construction
Architect: DLR Group
Notable subcontractors: Riggs Concrete, AME Electric, Builder Services Group, Deer Valley Plumbing, Desert Structures
Location: 1352 N. Fiesta Blvd., Gilbert
Start: August 2024
Completion: May 2025
Details: Fiesta Tech Center is a 59,723-square-foot industrial facility developed for Seefried Industrial Properties. Strategically located near US 60 and SR 87, it features 28foot clear heights, 19 dock-high doors and flexible tenant configurations.
GSQ Medical Building
General contractor: Ryan Companies US
Architects: Butler Design Group, Devenney Group
Notable subcontractors: RKS Plumbing & Mechanical, Kearney Electric & Communications, Western Partitions, Hardrock, Saguaro Steel
Location: 1800 N. Civic Square, Goodyear // Start: August 2024 // Completion: July 2025
Details: The three-story, 62,475-square-foot GSQ Medical Building is a Class A medical outpatient building at Goodyear Civic Square, within the GSQ master development. Already preleased to Banner Health, services will include primary care, orthopedics, cardiovascular, on-site labs and imaging.
George & Gather
General contractor: Overton
Construction
Architect: Reset Studios
Location: 336 S. Washington St., Chandler Start: 2023
Completion: January 2025
Details: George & Gather is a midcentury-inspired neighborhood hub blending work and play. It features Art Deco interiors, bold tilework, brass accents and a marble community table. With clean ingredients and an exhibition kitchen, it’s a modern nod to timeless hospitality and thoughtful design.
Developer: Southwest Value Partners // Architect: Gensler
Notable subcontractors: Energy System Design, PK Associates, TRUEFORM
Landscape Architecture Studio
Location: 1275 W. Washington St., Tempe
Start: March 2021 // Completion: May 2025
Details: Papago Arroyo reimagines a fragmented Tempe office campus into a unified, hospitality-forward destination. Inspired by Arizona’s desert and monsoon palette, the design centers around a vibrant amenity hub with a café and fitness center.
Park 10 at Avondale
Developer: Parkland Development
General contractor: A.R. Mays
Construction
Architect: Butler Design Group
Notable subcontractors: PK Associates, Kraemer Consulting Engineers
Location: 10315 W. McDowell Rd., Avondale
Start: March 2025
Completion: January 2026
Details: Located in Avondale, Park 10 offers entertainment and dining options such as Main Event, Mountainside Fitness, Portillo’s Hot Dogs and Barrio Queen, among others.
Construction by: Pulice Construction, FNF Construction, Flatiron
Architect: AZTEC Engineering Group
Notable subcontractors: Encon Arizona, doing business as Tpac
Start: July 2021
Completion date: June 2025
Details: This transformative infrastructure project serves as one of Arizona’s key commerce corridors. Over 5,000 businesses are located along the 11-miles of interstate near Sky Harbor Airport.
Developer: GSQ Goodyear Office, LLC
c/o Globe Management Company
General contractor: Stevens-Leinweber
Construction
Architect: Phoenix Design One
Notable subcontractors: Maplewood, Interstate Glass, Todek Acoustics, Total Care Plumbing, RCI Fire
Location: 15150 W. Park Place, Goodyear
Start: August 2024
Completion: February 2025
Details: This coworking hub draws on IWG’s Scandinavian roots, mixing oak wood, curved motifs and soft tones with a functional main reception, break area, furniture clusters with varied table heights, lounge seating and offices — all part of a groundbreaking master plan in the new heart of Goodyear.
General contractor: Haydon
Architect: Cawley Architects
Notable subcontractors: Hardrock
Concrete, Amber Steel, EMH Cranes
Location: 9927 E. Pecos Rd., Mesa
Start: March 2025
Completion: Summer 2026
Details: The 25-acre site and 215,000-square-foot facility supports sales and service of mining equipment and components. The various building volumes include four distinct spaces for component remanufacturing and manufacturing operations, warehousing, employee services and administration.
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Developer: ViaWest Group // General contractor: Willmeng Construction
Architect: Butler Design Group // Location: 2402 W. Beardsley Rd., Phoenix
Start: October 2025 // Completion: January 2027
Details: ReDiscover Logistics is ViaWest Group’s transformative industrial redevelopment at I-17 and Loop 101 in Phoenix’s Deer Valley submarket. Spanning 808,448 square feet across four Class A buildings, the project reimagines a former Intel and Discover site into a state-of-the-art logistics and light manufacturing campus.
Sacaton Retail Center
General contractor: Alcorn
Construction
Architect: RSP Architects
Notable subcontractors: R&M
Concrete, AME Electrical
Location: SEC of Ocotillo Rd. & Blue Bird Rd., Sacaton
Start: January 2024
Completion: July 2025
Details: The Sacaton Retail Center is a 24,000-square-foot market on Gila River Indian Community land. The project features a fueling station, laundromat and desert-inspired design. It quadruples the size of the previous store and prioritizes local produce, community needs, and cultural respect throughout its construction and operations.
Sprouts Farmers Market headquarters
Developer: Trammell Crow Company // General contractor: Wespac Construction
Architect: RSP Architects
Notable subcontractors: Cuhaci Peterson, Colwell Shelor Landscape Architecture, Energy Systems Design, PK Associates
Location: 20555 N. 55th St., Phoenix // Start: August 2024 // Completion: Q3 2026
Details: Currently under construction, the 180,000-square-foot campus will house the new Sprouts Farmers Market corporate headquarters in a four-story, 144,500-square-foot office building, including a 25,000-square-foot flagship grocery store, a test kitchen, a Press Coffee shop and a merchandising lab space.
St. Thomas the Apostle School
Developer: Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix
General contractor: Wespac
Construction
Architect: Hamilton Architecture
Notable subcontractors: Wilson Electric, Riggs Concrete, Apex Mechanical, Integrated Masonry, Pete King Drywall
Location: 2312 E. Campbell Ave., Phoenix
Start: May 2024
Completion: March 2026
Details: Located in the heart of Phoenix’s Biltmore area, this transformative project is poised to redefine the campus experience and inspire generations of learners to come. The new multistory facility will bring to life a modern educational environment featuring thoughtfully designed classrooms and administrative offices, an inviting lobby and a cafeteria.
Marshall Tempe
General contractor: A.R. Mays Construction
Architect: BKV Group
Location: 1057 E. Apache Blvd., Tempe
Start: January 2024
Developer: Evergreen Devco
General contractor: Derek Builders
Architect: Butler Design Group
Notable subcontractors: Modern Paving, Integrated Masonry, Elevate Flooring, Riggs Concrete, Milam Glass
Location: 48th St. & Alameda Dr., Tempe
Start: August 2024
Completion: October 2025
Details: The new development includes two single-story, gray shell dock warehouse buildings — Building 1 being 88,700 square feet and Building 2 consisting of 82,325 square feet.
Developer: ViaWest Group
General contractor: Willmeng Construction
Architect: DLR Group
Notable subcontractors: Suntec Concrete
Completion: July 2026
Details: The Marshall Tempe is an eight-story, 325,676-squarefoot luxury student housing community near ASU, featuring 188 units and 14,000 square feet of amenities including a rooftop terrace, resort-style pool, fitness center, study lounges, and outdoor dining, redefining the student living experience.
Location: 6302 N Litchfield Road, Litchfield Park AZ 85340
Start: October 2023
Completion: February 2025
Details: The Base is a new, 144-acre industrial campus, with Phase I consisting of seven Class A buildings totaling 1.18 million square feet. Phase II adds 780,000 square feet across eight buildings.
Developer: GO Industrial
General contractor: Willmeng Construction
Architect: DLR Group
Notable subcontractors: Suntec Concrete, Scott’s Diversified Construction, Structures Group
Southwest
Location: 3050 S. 35th St. Phoenix
Start: March 2025
Completion: March 2026
Details: Three Five Logistics is a 159,305-square-foot Class A industrial
facility, positioned just off I-10 and minutes from Sky Harbor Airport. The project will offer 32-foot clear height, 27 dock doors, 47 trailer stalls, and 3,000 amps of expandable power to 6,000 amps total.
Developer: Trammell Crow Company
General contractor: Wespac
Construction
Architect: DLR Group
Notable subcontractors: Suntec Concrete, Desert Structures, Saguaro Steel, JJ Sprague, Wilson Electric
Location: 3438 N. 93rd Ave., Phoenix
Start: July 2025
Completion: October 2026
Details: Sitting on 61 acres in the West Valley, this commerce campus consists of five buildings totaling 1,088,824 square feet of industrial space with ramp-up and grade-level sectional doors.
XNRGY At Gateway East
General contractor: Wespac Construction // Architect: Gensler
Notable subcontractors: Suntec Concrete, Next Level Steel, HACI Mechanical, Progressive Roofing, Aspen Construction
Location: 9019 E. Technology Ave., Mesa
Start: March 2024 // Completion: May 2025
Details: This LEED Silver manufacturing facility features a two-story, 25,300-squarefoot Class A office space. The high-end office interior showcases premium finishes including polished concrete, carpet, ceramic tile, quartz surfaces, plastic laminate doors and millwork.
General contractor: Wespac
Construction
Architect: Corgan
Notable subcontractors: Wilson Electric, Adobe Drywall, Barrett Homes, Wholesale Floors
Location: 6400 E. McDowell Rd., Scottsdale
Start: December 2024
Completion: October 2025
Details: This first-generation tenant improvement project is located within the Class A Entrada office building. Situated within an occupied structure, the space features high-end elements including an outdoor balcony, a spacious kitchen, an open office area, private offices, and a state-ofthe-art conference room.
As a second-generation Arizonan, I’ve witnessed Phoenix’s rebirth into a thriving metropolis firsthand. Exploring how the built environment makes my hometown even more dynamic is a great source of pride — and a whole lot of fun!
Kyle Backer Associate editor AZ Big Media
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