Bourn and Boyer Cos Two New Development Partners at Tucson’s UA Tech Park

TUCSON, Arizona — Tech Parks Arizona, on behalf of the University of Arizona and Campus Research Corporation has announced the development partners selected for two new projects at the UA Tech Park at The Bridges and the UA Tech Park at Rita Road.

Technology Precinct in the UA Tech Park at The Bridges
The Boyer Company, a Utah-based company, has been selected as the development partner to design, develop and finance the Technology Precinct in the UA Tech Park at The Bridges.  The Technology Precinct encompasses 20 acres of land within the larger 65-acre UA Tech Park at The Bridges.  It is being developed as a master-planned area that is integrated physically and functionally into the larger UA Tech Park at The Bridges.

The Innovation and Technology Complex (ITC) at the UA Tech Park at The Bridges will be the first vertical development in the Technology Precinct.  ITC will include two buildings that provide a total of 300,000-square-feet of office and lab space. ITC will serve as an ideal location for technology-oriented businesses and organizations and it will also serve as the Technology Commercialization Hub of the University of Arizona.

The Technology Precinct will include a full-service hotel and conference center, a parking structure and 400,000-square-feet of additional office and lab space.  The Technology Precinct will feature an outdoor plaza and public space to serve both employees and the community.  The Technology Precinct will advance development at the UA Tech Park at The Bridges, creating an “Innovation District” in the center of Tucson.

The Boyer Company is headquartered in Salt Lake City and also maintains an office in Phoenix.  The company is one of the largest full-service real estate development firms in the Western United States. During the past 46 years, The Boyer Company has developed more than 35-million-square-feet across the country, including projects in Arizona.  The firm currently owns and manages a portfolio that exceeds 15-million-square-feet of commercial space. Currently, the company has over $500 million of projects in various stages of development.  The Boyer Company is capable of accessing multiple funding sources that will ultimately provide the most stable and effective financing plan for new projects.  Over the past ten years, The Boyer Company secured over $2 billion of construction and permanent financing.

“The Tech Park at The Bridges presents a unique opportunity for our company to work closely with the UA and the Tucson community,” said Matt Jensen, a Partner with The Boyer Company.  “The Bridges provides growing and expanding companies with an easily accessible location, access to existing infrastructure and a location that offers a growing list of amenities.  We look forward to working closely with Tech Parks Arizona as we plan, market and develop the site.”

“The Renaissance of Ward 5 continues. I want to thank the four neighborhoods: Western Hills II, South Park, Las Vistas and Pueblo Gardens for leading the charge for economic development at the Tucson Marketplace at the Bridges.  The U of A Tech Park at The Bridges will be a great addition to the area, creating more jobs, providing services and helping our community,” stated Richard Fimbres, Councilmember, Tucson Ward 5.

“With the U of A announcement and the approval for the new GEICO regional office, this will provide needed jobs to young people.  This is changing a long 13 years of desert to opportunity for young people, first time home owners and our senior citizens.  I am glad we got to the finish line and now it is time for them to get going for the young people,” stated Willie Blake, President of the Western Hills II Neighborhood Association.

The Village at the UA Tech Park at Rita Road
The Village will be developed at the west end of the UA Tech Park on a 175-acre site near Kolb Road and Science Park Drive.  The new development will be integrated physically and functionally into the larger Tech Park and will address urban design, scale and connectivity factors such as walking, biking and driving to related community activities, including the adjacent Vail Academy and High School, as well as future development planned areas of the Tech Park.

Tucson-based, Bourn Companies, LLC has been selected to lead the development of The Village at the UA Tech Park at Rita Road.  The Village is a mixed-use development that will include retail, commercial, residential and hotel. The Village will add a new quality-of-life dimension to the UA Tech Park at Rita Road.

Bourn Companies is a leading development company primarily focused on integrative, mixed-use projects.  Since its founding in 1990, Bourn Companies has completed more than 40 projects totaling approximately $1 billion and is currently in various stages of design and development on approximately $1 billion more, much of it in Tucson.

The UA Tech Park at Rita Road benefits from a number of strategic advantages which create a critical mass not often seen in most development projects.  It is strategically located in one of the fastest growing regions in Tucson and Pima County and in one of the area’s best school districts – Vail Unified School District.  It is also 15 minutes from the resurgent downtown – the city’s increasingly vibrant economic and social hub.  And has convenient access to airport and the surrounding corporate district.  The UA Tech Park is uniquely positioned to create an exceptional environment because it is one the region’s major employment centers with over 40 businesses employing 6,000+ employees.

“This is truly a one-of-a-kind opportunity with inherent strategic advantages,” said Bourn Companies founder and CEO, Don Bourn. “The world is evolving, disruption is affecting all aspects of life and work and the old rules no longer apply.  It’s important to look forward, not backward to ensure success.  Through our development process, which is part market research and assessment and part planning and design, we will crystalize our vision for this dynamic, integrated, large-scale community – a future-focused destination befitting a world-class research and innovation district like UA Tech Park.”

This development will increase the competitive advantage of both Parks and is in direct response to the market as well as best practices of leading research parks around the world.

Tech Parks Arizona creates the “Interactive Ground” that generates, attracts and retains technology companies and talent in alignment with the research, mission and goals of the University of Arizona (UA).  Tech Parks Arizona directs the UA Tech Park at Rita Road, the UA Tech Park at The Bridges and the Arizona Center for Innovation, placing the highest priority on recruiting companies desiring connectivity to the University of Arizona.

For more information and leasing information, Brandon Rodgers, CCIM, with Cushman & Wakefield | Picor in Tucson can be reached at 520.546.2714.