TEMPE, AZ – Dust off the Dirndls and Lederhosen, the Arizona branch of the ACE Mentor Program of America (ACE) is excited to announce “Pokerfest,” this year’s Octoberfest-inspired Poker Night. ACE’s biggest fundraiser of the year will be held on Thursday, October 21st, with doors opening at 5:30 p.m. and festivities beginning at 7 p.m.

“We are so pleased to be able to gather again this year for Poker Night, which has grown into an event that our industry really supports,” said ACE Board Co-Chair Antonya Williams, Executive Vice President at McCarthy Building Companies. “We appreciate all of those who have gotten behind the ACE program and look forward to seeing everyone at the tables.”

Okland Construction will host the event at its offices located at 1700 N. McClintock Dr. in Tempe. Pokerfest will be a memorable night with industry partners competing in a poker tournament. A craps table will also be available, Braut Haus will offer food and beer, and Oktoberfest-themed attire is highly recommended.

“This event is so important to our organization in helping to fund scholarships for our future industry leaders,” said ACE Board Chair Dan Puente, Founder and CEO of DP Electric. “And, it’s so much fun.”

Prizes will be awarded to the top three finishers in the poker tournament, with $2,000 for the winner, $1,000 for second place, and $500 for third. There will also be a raffle during the event, with the winner receiving Floor Suite tickets to a Phoenix Suns game in November. These tickets include food and drinks.

Registration for the event is $100 for ACE members and $200 for non-members. Sponsorships are still available.

Founded in 1994, the ACE Mentor Program of America is a free, award-winning, after-school program designed to lead high school students into pursuing careers in the Architecture, Construction, and Engineering industries, including skilled trades. ACE programs are delivered by more than 70 affiliates (chapters), operating in 37 states and primarily based in metropolitan areas.

To RSVP, buy tickets, sponsor the event, or for more information, reach out to [email protected] or [email protected] or visit  acementoraz.com.

TUCSON, Arizona – Sundt Construction, Inc., recently completed the south residential building for the Benedictine. This is the first of two multi-family structures surrounding the historic Benedictine Monastery in midtown Tucson.

“This is a great milestone for our team on this noteworthy project,” said Ian McDowell, Sundt’s Vice President and Tucson Regional Director. “The hard work and dedication from our team and subcontractor partners were crucial to a successful completion.”

The south residential building at the Benedictine is a three-story and four-story concrete structure that includes 127 one and two-bedroom apartments. Once the north four-story building is complete, the development will feature 255 apartments and a two-level, 260-space parking garage.  Additional amenities include a café, pool and spa, fitness center, private courtyard, private garages, and surface parking.

The north building at the Benedictine is expected to open later this fall. The Sundt team will then finish off the project with the renovations inside the historic monastery building, including another 37 apartments and space for a future restaurant. The entire project will be completed next year. Poster Mirto McDonald serves as the architect on record.

Sundt opened its Tucson office in 1929. In the decades since, it has built notable landmarks across the Old Pueblo. The company is currently working on the UA’s Student Success District and the I-10 – Ruthrauff interchange.  Sundt recently completed the award-winning  Banner-University Medical Center Tucson’s new tower and the I-10 – Ina Interchange. The company continually ranks in the top five of ENR Southwest’s Top Contractors.

Sundt Construction, Inc. (www.sundt.com) is one of the country’s largest and most respected general contractors. The 131-year-old firm specializes in transportation, industrial, building, concrete and renewable power work and is owned entirely by its approximately 1,500-plus employees. Sundt is distinguished by its diverse capabilities and experience, unique employee-ownership culture and depth of self-perform expertise in nine major trades. Much of Sundt’s workforce is comprised of skilled craft professionals who, together with the company’s administrative employees, enable Sundt to fulfill its mission to be the most skilled builder in America. Sundt has 11 offices throughout California, Arizona, North Carolina, Texas and Utah and is currently ranked the country’s 58th largest construction company by ENR, the industry’s principal trade magazine.

PHOTO: Monastery Building Courtesy of Sundt Construction.

Deal Drew More than 10 Offers

MESA, ARIZONA — CBRE announced the sale of a 204,507-square-foot retail property in Mesa, Ariz. to SimonCRE, an Arizona-based real estate development and investment company, for $17.6 million ($86 PSF) in cash.

CBRE’s Alex Kozakov, Patrick Wade, Matthew Greenberg, Andrew Fosberg and Dylan Brown represented the seller, a California-based private real estate company.

Mesa Ranch Plaza, located at 1008-1142 E. Southern Avenue, houses such daily needs retailers as grocer Los Altos Ranch Market, home-goods store DD’s Discounts, shoe retailer WSS, as well service-oriented tenants such as Dentistry for Children and Rapido Express Income Tax. The site also features undeveloped land at the corner of Solomon and Southern Avenue, which is permitted for retail uses and provides an extra value-add opportunity for the buyer.  The property currently has 64,547-square-feet of vacant space, which represents approximately 32 percent of the overall gross leasable area.

“The Phoenix metropolitan area has recently seen significant population growth and retailer demand,” said Kozakov. “While Mesa is an established submarket with significant retail shopping center competition, SimonCRE saw a unique opportunity to stabilize the shopping center through capital improvements and lease up.  Their local expertise and relationships gave them confidence in increasing occupancy.”

The deal received more than 10 offers, and the property sold above the listing price.

“The grocery anchor Los Altos Ranch Market provides a strong customer draw to the center,” said Wade. “Consisting of five separate parcels, the property provides the buyer with good flexibility.”

Kozakov, Wade and Greenberg also represented SimonCRE in the transaction.