PHOENIX, Arizona – As part of the reimagining of the iconic Renaissance Square in Phoenix, Cypress Office Properties, LLC., with funds managed by Oaktree Capital Management, L.P., engaged four of Phoenix’s most widely recognized architecture and design firms to collaboratively design office suites of the future for various industries in what is being called, “Project Future.” The four speculative suites, making up the entire 18,379-square-foot fourth floor of Renaissance One, are slated to be revealed in Oct. 2017, at the grand unveiling of the completion of the first phase of the $50 million Renaissance Square renovation.

“Markets with similar trends to Phoenix, such as Houston and Los Angeles, have successfully experimented with this concept. Renaissance Square and the teams involved created the perfect project scenario to bring collaboration like this to Phoenix,” said Mark Jacobs, Managing Director at Oaktree Capital Management, L.P., and concept creator. “We’re not just changing the outdated image of Renaissance Square – we’re showing the community and tenants that existing spaces can offer “blank canvas” opportunities to create new and trend setting environments for today’s workplace, and we’re also allowing leading, local architects free reign to show us what future office interactivity and functionality will be in the next five to ten years.”

Hand-selected by Jacobs, the four teams randomly selected which suite they would design and the industry they would focus their design on.

• McCarthy Nordburg is designing a 2,913-square-foot space financial space
• RSP Architects, Ltd. is designing a 5,341-square-foot nonprofit space
• SmithGroupJJR is designing at 3,574-square-foot law space
• Evolution Design is designing a 6,552-square-foot technology space

“All teams are designing spaces that will allow flexibility so that any future tenant in any industry can easily operate,” said Alissa Franconi, Senior Associate at RSP Architects, Ltd. “Each space incorporates features that have never been seen before, not just from a design stand point, but in how they function as the workplace evolves.”

The suites will serve a wide range of demographics, and offer private spaces, more open and collaborative spaces, training spaces, presentation areas and moveable walls, utilizing metals and woods throughout. In addition, new bathrooms will be constructed, and the elevator lobby and common corridors will feature a specialized design. “With unique, modern and technology-driven suites, this floor will be a special showcase and will provide inspiration for other tenants of all sizes to build out their future at Renaissance Square,” said Franconi.

Jokake Construction, Phoenix, is the general contractor for the Project Future suites. Craig Coppola, Bill Blake, Andrew Cheney, Colton Trauter and Gregg Kafka of Lee & Associates Arizona represent Renaissance Square in lease activity.

TUCSON, Arizona — After a competitive selection process, the Rio Nuevo Board has approved contracting with the Architectural Team of SmithGroupJJR + WSM to design the new building for Caterpillar’s Surface Mining & Technology Division.

Rio Nuevo simultaneously approved the selection of Tucson-based Sundt Construction, Inc. as the project’s general contractor.

SmithGroupJJR, (www.smithgroupjjr.com) of Phoenix, is a 160-year-old national architecture and engineering firm that has created a legacy of inspiring places that enhance the environment and enrich the human experience. Among its most significant projects are Phelps Dodge Corporate Headquarters, the renowned Chandler City Hall, Salt River Tribal Government Complex, Microsoft Sales & Health Solutions Group Offices, the GoDaddy Global Technology Center, the White House Visitor Center and hundreds of award-winning projects around the globe.  SmithGroupJJR chose to partner with WSM Architects as their Local Liaison and boots on the ground because of their long history in the Tucson market and commitment to the community. WSM Architects, Tucson (www.wsmarch.com), has a rich history of designing some of the city’s best-known projects, including Tucson Fire Central Headquarters, Tucson Police Department Forensic Crime Lab, and Sundt Tucson Headquarters.

Sundt Construction, Inc. (www.sundt.com) is one of the country’s largest and most respected general contractors. The 127-year-old firm specializes in transportation, industrial, building and concrete work and is known for its commitment to quality and innovative approach to construction services. Sundt has 10 offices throughout Arizona, Texas, California and Utah and is 100 percent owned by its approximately 1,600 employees. In 2016 it was named the nation’s safest construction company by the Associated General Contractors of America for the second time in a decade – an honor no other contractor can claim. Sundt’s charitable arm, the Sundt Foundation, recently crossed the $7.6 million mark in donations made to hundreds of nonprofit organizations across the country.

Sundt established its corporate headquarters in Tucson in 1929 and since then has completed more than $2 billion worth of work in the Tucson area, including more than 40 projects in and around downtown. The company was instrumental in the expansion of the University of Arizona, constructed Loews Ventana Canyon Resort, and has completed projects for many notable companies including Raytheon, Sony Electronics, Dial, American Airlines and American Express.

Caterpillar announced Tucson as the new centralized hub for the Surface Mining & Technology Division in 2016 and accepted Rio Nuevo’s offer to build a new building and lease it back to Caterpillar. Located on the west side of Interstate 10, adjacent to Tucson’s origins, Caterpillar’s new 150,000-square-foot building will house approximately 600 company engineers, product development and support positions working on the next generation of mining equipment, vehicles, and technology.

“We had a great response to our request for proposals,” said Fletcher McCusker, Rio Nuevo Board Chairman. “The iconic Caterpillar project deserves the best team and that’s what we have. We are especially happy to work with Arizona firms.”

The creation of the Rio Nuevo Multipurpose Facilities District was approved by Tucson voters in 1999, along with an appointed Board, to invest state tax dollars in public and public/private projects to create a vibrant Tucson core. For every dollar the Board invests, the community reaps $10 of construction activity with projects like the AC Hotel Tucson by Marriott, The Arena, Greyhound, The Mercado Annex, City Park, The Marist project, and Caterpillar.

For more information, visit https://rionuevo.org.