Building Arizona

The City of Phoenix Planning & Development Department’s Office of Customer Advocacy (OCA) provides guidance and support to small business customers new to the development and permit process.  The OCA provides assistance with pre-project research, identifying plan submittal requirements, coordination between the design team and city staff, resolving technical issues and provides a central point of contact for the customer.

The OCA also administers the Adaptive Reuse Program, which encourages the reuse of existing buildings for new businesses and provides regulatory relief in many cases.  Information about the OCA and adaptive reuse program is available online at: http://www.phoenix.gov/pdd/development/oca/index.html

Small business customers are encouraged to contact the office before leasing or purchasing property to verify the site and building will be acceptable for the intended use.  The OCA is open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and is located in Phoenix City Hall, 200 West Washington Street, Second floor.  For more information or to make an appointment, please call 602-534-7344.

The Adaptive Reuse Program website is: http://www.phoenix.gov/pdd/services/permitservices/arp.html

AZRE: Arizona Commercial Real Estate Magazine held its 7th Annual RED (Real Estate and Development) Awards last night to recognize the biggest, best and most notable commercial real estate projects and transactions of 2011. The winners and honorable mentions were selected from a record 116 nominations received in 12 project categories and individual and team broker categories.

The ceremony was held at the Arizona Biltmore in Phoenix, and was sponsored by APS Solutions For Business; Squire Sanders; and CBIZ and Mayer Hoffman McCann P.C.

The winners:

Best Education Project: Grand Canyon University Arena

Best Hospitality Project: Westin Downtown Phoenix

Best Industrial Project: Dunn-Edwards Phoenix

Best Healthcare Project: Phoenix Children’s Hospital

Best Multi-Family Project: Devine Legacy on Central

Best Office Project: Fountainhead Office Plaza

Best Public Project: Virginia G. Piper Sports & Fitness Center for Persons with Disabilities

Best Redevelopment Project: Adelante Healthcare Surprise

Best Retail Project: iPic Theater/Tanzy/Salt

Most Challenging Project: Salt River Fields at Talking Stick

Most Sustainable Project: DPR Construction Phoenix Headquarters

Best Tenant Improvement Project: Limelight Networks

Merit Award: Healthcare OASIS Hospital

Merit Award: Education P.L. Julian Elementary School

Developer of the Year: Banner Healthcare

Architect of the Year: DAVIS

General Contractor of the Year: Kitchell

Broker: Leasing -  Jay Hoselton, Cushman & Wakefield

Broker: Sales -  Ken Elmer, Commercial Properties Inc.

Brokerage Team: Leasing -  Bo Mills and Mark Detmer Cushman & Wakefield

Brokerage Team: Sales – Tyler Anderson and Sean Cunningham CBRE

Honorable Mention

Education: NAU Health & Learning Center

Healthcare: Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center

Hospitality: Casino Del Sol Hotel Convention Center and Parking Structure Expansion

Industrial: Crescent Crown Distribution

Most Challenging: Arizona Science Center Phase III Remodification

Multi-Family: Phoenix Towers Terrace

Office: UniSource Energy Corporate Office

Public: Maricopa County Downtown Court Tower

Redevelopment: The Q Building at Paradise Valley Community College

Retail: American Sports Complex-Retail Center

Most Sustainable: Phoenix Children’s Hospital

Tenant Improvement: Gap Fulfillment Center

About Arizona Commercial Real Estate Magazine (AZRE):

AZRE Magazine is published bi-monthly by AZ Big Media and has a circulation of 25,000 per issue. AZ Big Media publishes Arizona Business Magazine, Scottsdale Living  Magazine, Ranking Arizona, Experience Arizona, People To Know and Play Ball. It also hosts the Scottsdale Super Expo, Women’s Super Expo and  Home & Life Super Expo. AZ Big Media runs the Home & Design Idea Center in Scottsdale.

If you haven’t seen this show yet, you are missing out.  The show features development projects in Phoenix, focusing on sustainability, historic preservation and adaptive reuse of buildings.

An all-new episode of the Emmy Award-nominated “Building Phoenix” television show premieres at 8 p.m. Friday, June 17, on PHX11 and on-demand at phoenix.gov/11.

This episode features a look inside the restoration of Regency House, one of the first highrise residential buildings in Phoenix, and includes an interview with the building’s original architect, George H. Schoneberger.   See how a standard 1950s office building was adapted into a space grand enough for several local businesses, including Giant Coffee, an espresso bar and café from the guy behind Matt’s Big Breakfast.  Grand Canyon University has grand plans for its 50 year old West Phoenix campus, including a new performance center, recreation center, classrooms, and more – and it’s happening fast!  Plus, a homebuilder in Laveen harnesses the power of the sun to energize its business plan.

Check out their YouTube channel for past episodes at http://www.youtube.com/buildingphoenixshow#p/u and follow them on twitter for the latest development updates @Buildingphx

THE LINK: GIANT COFFEE, BUNKY BOUTIQUE

For Immediate Release

Phoenix, AZ –  Sonoran Sustainable Building Advisor Program (Sonoran SBAP) is providing fully funded, comprehensive training, thanks to a State Energy Sector Partnership grant received by the State.  The goal of the grant is to provide training and national certifications to help career seekers in the energy efficiency and renewable energy industries, which continue to grow, despite Arizona’s 9.5% unemployment rate.

Sonoran SBAP President, Leslie Lindo says, “We are thrilled with the opportunity to do our part in reviving the job market in Arizona.  There are many people interested in the field of sustainability that now, thanks to this grant, can have the knowledge and certification to obtain a new position, or take their career to the next level.”

Market statistics show accelerated growth in the energy and sustainability fields, with increased Federal and State green building mandates, increased consumer awareness surrounding energy costs and health impacts, and the drive for solar power use in buildings as municipal utilities work to comply with state-level renewable power standards (RPS) for 2015 and 2020.

The Sustainable Building Advisor (“SBA”) Program teaches participants how to apply the fundamental principles of sustainability. The course offers a hands-on approach to sustainability training that challenges students to recognize and understand problems, identify opportunities, and craft innovative solutions in the built environment. Scope includes global, regional, municipal, commercial, and residential perspectives. Course participants learn and apply best practices in sustainability sciences, moving beyond the LEED scoring framework. The SBA Program is recognized by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) as a 400-level “mastery” course in sustainability.

The training will begin in June with 2 cohorts. One cohort is a 9 week accelerated session; the other cohort is a 9 month program. Applications are being accepted on a first come, first served basis until May 6 and can be found on-line at http://www.sonoransbap.com/TuitionAssistance-SESP_files/SoSBAP%20SESP%20Application.pdf. The funding is also available to those already employed, but seeking further training.

For more information on Sonoran SBAP: http://www.sonoransbap.com

Leslie Lindo – President
Sonoran Sustainable Builder Advisor Program
(623) 236-6465
leslie@sonoransbap.com

Photo by Rick Brazil - Brazil Design Group

Circle West Architects celebrates receipt of the  American Institute of Architects (AIA) Arizona Honor Award for a residential renovation known as “Desert House” in Paradise Valley. Lauded in the Distinguished Building Category, Desert House is a living structure that balances a modern aesthetic with design intelligence through a profound integration with the desert setting.                                                        

Founded by Peter M. Koliopoulos, AIA, Circle West Architects is a creatively driven, award winning, planning and design firm based in Phoenix, Arizona that combines a reverence for the natural environment with a powerful modern aesthetic. Koliopoulos is recognized for his firm’s sensual modernism that accentuates spatial relationships, natural materials and light for a memorable way of living. http://www.circlewest.net