Construction on the mixed-use infill project is underway in the Camelback Corridor

PHOENIX Arizona – Las Vegas-based developer LaPour Partners has announced that Graycor Construction Company will lead the design-build construction of Camelback Collective, a highly anticipated, mixed-use development featuring 120,000-square-feet of modern Class A office and a 160-room AC by Marriott hotel in the heart of Phoenix’s Biltmore Financial District within the Camelback Corridor.

Camelback Collective’s design-build team is comprised of Graycor Construction Company as the design-build contractor and multiple design and trade partners including RSP Architects, Hunter Engineering, Suntec Concrete, PK Associates, Aero Automatic, Wilson Electric and HACI Mechanical. Jerry Roberts and Patrick Boyle of CBRE are the project’s exclusive office brokerage team.

“Camelback Collective is a high-profile project for the area and our partners. We are pleased to have an experienced group of design-build professionals working alongside us,” said Jeff LaPour of LaPour Partners. “I am confident the creativity and specialized skillset of our team will contribute to the success of this exciting development.”

“Our team has worked in successful tandem many times before,” said Todd Ostransky, Graycor Construction Company General Manager – Southwest Division. “We place a high value on collaboration, communication and accountability, all of which are essential when working on projects of this complexity in tight urban settings. Graycor has a 95-year history of managing projects of this nature and we look forward to putting our expertise to work as part of this dynamic team.”

“Camelback Collective will enhance the mixed-use fabric of the Camelback Corridor with the addition of a state-of-the-art, Class A office building and modern AC by Marriott hotel,” said Bob Colletta, Associate Principal with RSP Architects. “The office building’s presence on Camelback Road focuses views to the Phoenix mountains and the Biltmore golf course. The adjacent hotel shares a central courtyard with the office and enjoys the same views while preserving the privacy of hotel guests and the residential neighborhood to the south.”

The Camelback Collective site totals just 3.6 acres bordered by commercial and residential development, and Camelback Road. Early in the planning process, the team worked to identify challenges and solutions such as considering the unique requirements for the infill location, creating an alternative site access point to avoid traffic disruptions on Camelback Road, and providing off-site parking to mitigate overflow of construction vehicles into commercial or residential areas. The team also developed a detailed site logistics plan that carefully maps out the placement of operational functions – such as crane placement and equipment and material staging – on a site that offers only one-quarter of an acre of undisturbed land during construction.

Located on Camelback Road between 28^th and 29^th Streets in Phoenix, Camelback Collective, at completion, will include a 120,000-square-foot, Class A mid-rise office building, a 160-room AC by Marriott hotel, and surface and subterranean parking. The office building incorporates sustainable features and is designed to achieve U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Certification. The project broke ground in February 2017 and is set to deliver Winter of 2018.

Camelback Collective is the latest example of Graycor’s strategic Southwest market expansion, which includes a strong foundation of industrial and tenant improvement clients, as well as new office, retail and hospitality projects that maximize the value of the company’s national platform. Locally, this includes projects such as the AMC Esplanade Fork and Screen Conversion, JW Marriott Hotels & Resorts Camelback Inn Renovation, and Sunrise Assisted Living of Chandler.

 

JLL NAMES MIKE RUPPERT AS SENIOR MANAGING DIRECTOR
LOS ANGELES, CALIF. – Institutional Investors’ desire to increase property values through the use of property management and agency leasing expertise has led JLL to add experienced talent to its roster.

The firm announced Wednesday Mike Ruppert has joined its property management platform as Senior Managing Director, Southwest Region (including Phoenix) and property management lead for the Southwest region, including Phoenix

“Mike’s proven track record of excellent client relationship management, combined with his ability to drive portfolio values, made him the obvious choice for the role,” said JLL President of Property Management Dan Pufunt. “Our clients will benefit immensely from his addition to our platform.”

“The Southwest markets are already key targets for the investment community,” added JLL Southwest Market Director Peter Belisle. “Having Mike join JLL will allow us to add value in locations where we have a strong footprint, enhance service delivery and relationships with clients, and increase presence in the Southwest CBD markets.

A more than 25-year industry veteran, Ruppert brings expertise in managing client relationships, coordinating best practices and executing management and leasing strategies on portfolios of office, industrial, retail and medical office assets. He previously served in leadership positions with notable real estate services and development firms, a public office REIT and a private ownership firm. Mike pursued his degree in Business Administration from the University of Minnesota-Winona.

INDUSTRIAL BROKER JEFF BANKS JOINS CUSHMAN & WAKEFIELD
PHOENIX, AZ. – Jeffrey A. Banks has joined the Industrial Properties Division of Cushman & Wakefield of Arizona, Inc. as an Associate.

Banks’ primary responsibilities at C&W will be to focus on tenant and agency leasing for industrial properties. Banks previously was Vice President of Business Development for Facto Express, a freight shipping and trucking company. Prior to that he was Assistant Vice President of Institutional Fixed Income for DA Davidson and Co., and FTN Financial.

“Jeff is a perfect complement to our industrial division,” said Jackie Orcutt, Market Leader | Investor Services at C&W of Arizona. “He brings great perspective from the occupier side of the business and his background in commercial lending makes him extremely well-rounded.

“He is well-poised to launch a very successful career in industrial brokerage and we are happy to be working with him,” Orcutt said.

Banks was born in Heidelberg, Germany, but was raised in the southern California area. He attended high school in Brea Olinda, Calif. He received a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance, Real Estate and Law from Cal Poly Pomona, in Pomona, Calif.

JOHNSON CARLIER ANNOUNCES JACK ALBERT, SENIOR PROJECT MANAGER ADDITION
TEMPE, ARIZ. – Johnson Carlier, a locally-based general contractor, announced today that Jack Albert has  joined the company as Senior Project Manager. Albert is a LEED® Accredited Professional with preconstruction and construction management expertise. He has 25+ years of experience in the Arizona construction industry.

Albert has been involved in Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) projects in Arizona since its inception as a procurement method in 2000. His experience includes working on 100+ educational facilities with numerous public school districts and charter schools. He also has experience with retail, office, industrial and religious type projects.

Chris Johnson, CEO of Johnson Carlier said today, “I’m pleased to have Jack join the team as his specific expertise will be valuable to our upcoming company goals”.

Albert is a graduate of Arizona State University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Engineering. He takes a personal approach to interfacing with owners, architects, local communities and other parties involved with the Arizona A/E/C industry.

SUNTEC CONCRETE ANNOUNCES RICK KRATZ AS CFO
PHOENIX – Suntec Concrete, one of the largest concrete contractors in the Western United States, recently announced the addition of Rick Kratz, CPA, as the company’s CFO. Kratz is a 30-year veteran of construction accounting, including having served the past 22 years as a Principal for the CPA firm of Pittman & Murdough, PLLC, who merged with Henry & Horne, LLP this year.

Kratz joined the 600-employee company to bring additional leadership to the financial and risk management operations of the company, including the development of financial and operational strategies, as well as the development and implementation of tools to monitor and manage company assets and financial results.

“Rick’s impressive background in both construction and finance makes him a great fit for his new role at Suntec,” said Suntec Concrete President Derek Wright. “We look forward to his contributions in the financial and contractual management side of the business.”

“For a number of years prior to joining Suntec, in my role as a member of the company’s outside accounting firm, I was fortunate to be able to work closely with Suntec’s management team,” Kratz stated. “As a result, I was continually impressed with the company’s level of sophistication, as well as its commitment to its employees, customers and community. When I was presented with the idea of becoming Suntec’s CFO, I knew it was an opportunity I could not pass up.”

In addition to his role with the Suntec, Kratz is involved in the construction accounting association of Construction Financial Management Association (CFMA) Arizona Chapter. Kratz is a graduate of Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa and received his CPA more than 25 years ago. He is married to his wife of 32 years, has two adult children and lives in Glendale.