Ernst & Young Signs 20,000 SF Lease at New Downtown Mixed-Use Development

PHOENIX, Arizona – Cushman & Wakefield have announced that Ernst & Young, a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services, signed a 20,000-square-foot lease at Block 23 at CityScape.

Jerry Roberts and Pat Boyle of Cushman & Wakefield’s agency leasing group negotiated the lease on behalf of RED Development. Larry Downey and Brett Thompson of Cushman & Wakefield’s tenant advisory group represented Ernst & Young.

Located at 101 E. Washington Street in Downtown Phoenix, Block 23 at CityScape is a brand new Class A, mixed-use development expected to be completed in June 2019. Ernst & Young’s new office will be located on the top floor of the six-story building. They will be relocating from their current location at Renaissance Tower in January 2019.

“It’s a great opportunity to be on the top floor of a new building, the first new construction in Downtown in many years,” said Larry Downey.

At completion, Block 23 will encompass 1.5 million square feet and provide a true mixed-use environment that will allow tenants live, work, and play all in the heart of the newly reinvented downtown core. Included within the development will be 300 luxurious residential units, a 45,000-square-foot urban Fry’s Fresh Marketplace and 230,000-square-feet of creative office space.

The office space has been designed with the next generation of office users in mind. The 45,000-square-foot floor plate is the biggest in the Central Business District (CBD) and can be easily divisibly. The product will be truly unique with full height glass throughout, contemporary open ceilings and a 16-foot slab to slab height.

Phoenix, Arizona  – KatzDesignGroup, a full-service interior architecture firm specializing in commercial tenant improvements, healthcare, and restaurant interiors. recently served up three restaurant interior projects in bustling Downtown Phoenix ranging from a fast-casual eatery at CityScape to an upscale Italian dining establishment at Collier Center.

“With urban centers becoming part of the live, work, play trend, Downtown Phoenix is right in the mix,” said Principal Beth Katz. “Restaurants are a playing a big part in creating the new culture of downtown. KatzDesignGroup worked with these three unique restaurants all within three blocks of each other creating custom-branded spaces.”

The projects include:

>> Yogi’s Grill, CityScape, 1 E. Washington St., 1,200-square-feet: Phoenix-based KatzDesignGroup designed the first of the newly branded Yogi’s Grill – Teriyaki & Roll fast casual restaurants, this one at CityScape. The 12^th of the franchise brings in a newly branded interior with a variety of unique materials.

The counter has a combination of granite and “burnt” wood. Millworker URI Construction repurposed pieces of salvaged wood for several weeks to create the mixed wood panels in the 250 SF dining area. The next location at Rivulon in Gilbert is scheduled to open in February.

“During demolition, we found plumbing running through a wall we were planning on removing,” Katz said. “Our contractor (One Way Construction) had to modify the front counter within hours to keep the project on track.”

>> Mancuso’s Restaurant, Collier Center, 201 E. Washington St., 8,700-square-feet: Katz partnered with Pasadena Ave. Design to create Bob Mancuso’s next venture. The space celebrates the restaurant’s 35-year Phoenix history with family heirlooms and photographs. It also is inspired by Northern Italian cuisine and design.

The restaurant features a custom map of the town in Northern Italy where the Mancuso family lived as a backdrop for the new host area. Mancuso’s can accommodate large parties in Downtown Phoenix.

>> Noodle Bar, Orpheum Lofts Building, 114 W. Adams St., C-103, 2,700-square-feet: Katz worked with chef Marco DiSanto to design a restaurant as an authentic mix of his Japanese and Italian heritage. The team went with authenticity vs. fusion, Katz said. The space features locally made custom metal light fixtures described as “organic and noodle-ish.”

Other design features are Italian tiles, bento box counters, artist-inspired visual graphics, and the graphic branding by AWE Collective. Partner architect was Michael Hall; Bill Plesher of Landmark Kitchen Design provided additional design. General contractor was De Novo Construction.

“The space is in a historic building with an HOA,” Katz said. “Utilities were difficult to access as the space was not built for a restaurant space.”

For more information visit www.katzdesigngroup.com