Creative Machines (Joseph O’Connell, CEO) the Tucson-based, worldwide design and fabrication firm, is planning a suitable celebration when it relocates into its expansive new headquarters at 4001 E Irvington Road this spring. While details are still being finalized, it’s safe to say that the guest list will include Tom Hunt and Bob Davis of Tango Commercial Real Estate, who represented O’Connell in the $1.56 million ($21 PSF) purchase of the 75,000-square-foot building, located along Irvington Road, east of Alvernon Way.

Creative Machines intends to utilize 65,304-square-feet after completing $850,000 in improvements, currently underway. The remainder of the property, including 8,119-square-feet of office space and 1,577-square-feet of industrial/warehouse space, has been relisted with Tango.

“With the momentum initiated by Creative Machines’ purchase and improvements, this complementary site offers exciting potential for the right user,” said Hunt, who scoured the city with O’Connell looking for just the right spot.

“I enjoyed working with Tom and Bob at Tango,” said O’Connell. “They’re knowledgeable, professional and prompt. But what I really appreciated was the chance to benefit from their judgment. The more time I spend in business, the more I value that elusive quality of judgment, regardless of the field.”

O’Connell founded Creative Machines in 1995 to design and fabricate interactive exhibits for museums around the world and began making public art in 2004. He chose to headquarter in Tucson for its size, university, deep intellectual capital, healthy arts community and critical mass along with affordable commercial real estate prices. Last year, the company landed its largest commission to date, a $1.4 million sculpture called Wings over Water, which will be installed in Houston in time for Superbowl LI.

Currently operating out of 10,000-square-feet off South Country Club, O’Connell and his team of 30+ engineers, artists and fabricators will have plenty of elbow room in their new space and, more importantly, the ability to take on a lot more work.

“We like to help entrepreneurs like Joe grow their businesses, create jobs and improve the Tucson economy,” said Hunt. “Working with creative and successful entrepreneurs that bring dollars into the Tucson economy is what Tango is all about.”

The seller, SCB Properties of San Diego, CA was represented by Pat Welchert and Rob Glaser of Cushman & Wakefield Picor in Tucson.

 For additional information Welchert can be contacted at 520.546.2748 and Glaser is at 520.546.2707. Davis can be reached at 520.906.5682 and Hunt should be contacted at 520.288.1231.

To learn more about this transaction, see RED Comp #3526.

Aztera Properties, LLC (Manny Teran, manager) purchased an approximately 30,000-square-foot office/manufacturing facility in two buildings at 1120-1140 N Anita Avenue in Tucson for $1.25 million ($42 PSF). The property is at I-10 and Speedway Boulevard in Central Tucson and formerly occupied by Victory Motorcycles.

Technology innovation is the driving force of Aztera, and with four sister companies currently under one 5,000-square-foot roof, the company is expanding into what Teran calls a “hub of innovation”. From thermostat interfaces, to flow batteries and solar enhancements, the company provides diverse technological solutions to specialized problems with a team of mechanical, electrical, and software engineers.

In 2011, Teran realized there was a need for customer-focused technology development, and he launched Aztera to respond. The company worked closely with Tech Launch Arizona (TLA) in creating a domain list of experts. TLA under the leadership of Dr. David Allen works with technology companies to commercialize UA technologies and facilitate industry-sponsored research. Aztera worked with TLA to compile a list of 13,000 domain experts who could be called on for specific expertise as the need rises.

For instance, when two TMC nurses approached Aztera with a better idea on how bed-ridden patients could be turned using technology, instead of the current lumbersome pillows and a sheet method, the TiltRite patient turning system was engineered and developed.

Acomni, another sister company, developed a Wi-Fi enabled HVAC monitoring device that allows users to visualize their energy expenses. Users have complete control over the unit and interfacing to the power grid. Power companies can then smooth out power use throughout the gird.

BrockTek, a company purchased by Aztera three months ago, has developed a product called Sun Sweep, a system used to clean solar panels in large commercial solar fields without the use of water. Space for manufacturing of Sun Sweep will be done at the new facility.

BrockTek also has an unmanned aerial and ground systems design and manufacturing company. The company provides complete solutions for aerial and ground data gathering, processing, and analysis in order to deliver strategic and actionable information to clients in military and defense, as well as across a variety of civilian sectors. The BrockTek team is comprised of highly specialized and diverse skillsets in systems design & integration, research & development, composites, custom machining, custom software design, and CAD modeling.

Engineer and entrepreneur, Manny Teran told us, “The two buildings purchased will become a hub of innovation, with manufacturing in the building to the north and offices in the southern building, separated by an installation of solar panels and a few Tesla battery stations on just over 2 acres.”

Gary and Randy Emerson of GRE Partners, LLC represented the seller, the co-trustees of the Louis W. Barassi Revocable Trust of Tucson and Bob Davis of Tango Commercial Real Estate (formerly of Rein & Grossoehme) represented the buyer.

To learn more the Emersons can be reached at 520.777.4949 and Davis cam be reached at 520.906.5682.

For more details on the products being marketed by Aztera go the the websites https://www.acomni.com/, https://www.brocktekus.com/, and https://www.tiltrite.com/ for more information.

Details on this sale transaction can be found at RED Comp #3262.

Three Tucson industrial investment properties sold for $1.6 Million, 2030 N Forbes in the Broadbent Business Park, 3137 E Greenlee Road, and 637 S Vine Ave.

An investor from Rancho Mirage, CA, M.A.O.R.I., LLC purchased a 12,000-square-foot industrial building at 2030 N. Forbes Blvd. in Tucson from Alamos Ventures, LLC for $1,080,000 ($90 PSF). Built in 1978, the multi-tenant industrial property has five tenants and was fully leased at the time of sale.

Tenants included Yarbrough Electronics Sales, Veteran Security, Consolidated Electrical Supplies, Elite Community Services and BlueSky Matrix Products.

Brandon Rodgers, CCIM, Industrial Specialist with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR, represented the seller and Nic Chavira formerly with Rein & Grossoehme Commercial Real Estate and currently with Tango Commercial Real Estate Services represented the investor.

Picor Property Management will continue management of the property for the new owner.

To learn more Rodgers can be reached at 520.546.2714 and Chavira can be contacted at 520.982.9017. See also RED Comp # 3132 for additional information.

+ + + + +

E.A.T Partners of Tucson (Eric Freeman and Tim Freeman, managing partners) purchased a 6,881-square-foot multi-tenant industrial office / contractor yard at 3137 E Greenlee in Tucson from The Kern Family (John, Linda, and Jeffrey Kern, members) for $264,500 ($38 PSF). Built circa 1975m the property consists of three buildings on a 36,000-square-foot lot.

The front office is 1,435-square-feet and rear office buildings divided into four separate suites with two fenced storage buildings with roll up doors and fenced yards.

Tony Reed with Long Realty of Tucson handled the transaction representing the seller.

To learn more Reed should be contacted at 520.918.5189. See also RED Comp #3082 for additional information.

+ + + + +

Chargers 1, LLC if Tucson (Brandon Rodgers, managing member) purchased a 5,250-square-foot industrial building at 637 S. Vine Ave. in Tucson from Net Real Estate I, LLC for $250,000 ($48 PSF). Property is a single tenant investment, built 1979, and occupied by PetersenDean, a commercial and residential roof and solar contractor founded in 1984 and headquartered in California, with 15 regional offices in five states.

The tenant has occupied the property for 13 years.

Brandon Rodgers, CCIM, Industrial Specialist with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR, represented the buyer and Paul Hooker, Industrial Specialist with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR, represented the seller in this transaction.

To learn more Rodgers can be reached at 520.546.2714 and Hooker is at 520.546.2704. For additional information see RED Comp #3098.