Scottsdale Hangar One

Best Private Project Over $5 Million 

Scottsdale Hangar One 

http://southwest.construction.com/projects/03_BestOf/03_BestOfArizona.pdf 

Scottsdale Hangar One is a privately 

owned hangar complex and flight club 

located at the Scottsdale Airpark. The 

approximately 140,000-sq.-ft. facility 

can accommodate up to fifteen aircraft 

in its two 30,000-sq.-ft. hangars. A 108ft.-long, 

15,000-lb. aluminum “paper” 

airplane adorns the roof. Interior spaces 

are luxuriously furnished with custom 

fixtures, upholstered ceilings, exotic 

stone and terrazzo floorings, mahogany, 

ebony, and other rare woods; silk and 

wool carpeting; Onyx wall panels, and 

top-of-the-line building automation and 

audio-visual systems. The owner's love 

of flying can be seen in two of the elevator 

cabs, where 420 hand-painted, scalemodel 

military airplanes are enclosed 

behind glass panels. The twin airplane 

hangars have a clear height of 28.5 ft. 

An approximately 68,500-sq.-ft. multipurpose 

facility adjoins the hangars 

and includes below-grade parking, 

premium office space and entertainment 

space. It also features an exclusive 

and unique auto showroom, 

which will showcase the owner's private 

collection of exotic automobiles 

and vintage racecars. 

Sundt's Concrete Division used tilt 

panels, gang panels and loose-formed 

panels to construct the concrete walls, 

yet the entire structure has the 

appearance of loose- formed concrete. 

This was achieved by embedding snap 

tie cones and casting form lines into 

both the tilt panels and gang forms. 

The “bullet hole” wall in the lounge 

has 17 tapered penetrations, each with 

a different angle. The wall was cast in 

a single operation with a nearly flawless 

architectural finish. The amount 

of concrete construction involved in 

Owner: Airmore LLC 

Architect: Swaback Partners; Adam D. 

Interior Design: Tihany International 

Landscape Architect: Steve Martino & 

Associates 

Construction Manager/ General Contractor: 

Sundt Construction, Inc. 

Civil Engineer: Stantec Consulting, Inc. 

Structural Engineer: Paul Koehler Engineers 

MEP Engineer: Lockwood Greene 

19 Southwest Contractor 12/2003 

Arizona Best of 2003 

the project necessitated the use of up 

to six cranes at one time, which made 

the 5.5-acre site very congested.

The Church of the Epiphany wanted to 

expand their 1980 church building into a 

classical crucifix shape configuration. The 

solution was to build a new contemporary 

worship space and convert their 1980 worship 

space into a new fellowship hall/multipurpose 

room and kitchen. The old fellowship 

hall, built in 1970, was then remodeled 

into new educational classrooms. 

The Church of the Epiphany was the 

first in Tempe to have received 

approval for the use of rammed earth. 

The contemporary design of rammed 

earth, brick masonry and copper has 

been used in construction for centuries. 

The rammed earth is used to 

complement the masonry and evokes 

the formation of clay brick in the construction. 

The compression of earth, 

binder and water in forms completes 

the process and provides a monolithic 

expression of the fundamental formation 

of the manufactured masonry, the 

perfect compliment to frame this place 



Best Private Project Under $5 Million 

Episcopal Church of the Epiphany 

Owner: Episcopal Church of the 

Epiphany 

Architect: Architectural Resource 

Team, Inc. 

Landscape Architect: Premier Engineering 

Corporation 

General Contractor: The Construction 

Zone, Ltd. 

Structural Engineer: JT Engineering, Inc. 

MEP Engineers: E*J Engineering Group, Inc./ 

Associated Engineering 

Steel: Metal Weld/ Metal Works 

Electrical: Ferguson Electric 

Mechanical: Wolfgang's Heating & Cooling 

Interior: MKB Construction 

Masonry: Pioneer Masonry 

Sitework: Ace Asphalt 

PHOTO BY ARCHITECTURAL RESOURCE TEAM, INC. 

of worship. The innovative use of natural, 

locally obtained materials provides a 

nearly maintenance free exterior envelope 

that will last for at least 50 years. A 

newly added Celtic cross and fountain is 

the exterior focal point. The courtyard 

side of the new building addition can 

completely open for overflow and exterior 

events. 

The simple use of materials, earth 

and light are the keys to the wonderful 

success of this unique project. A copper 

cylinder, two-foot thick rammed earth 

walls, brick and glass (both colored and 

clear), enhance the building, while the 

roof appears to float on the glass.


Best Public Project Over $5 Million 

Stevie Eller Dance Theatre 

Motion is meeting metal at the new 

Stevie Eller Dance Theatre on the campus 

of the University of Arizona, where 

designers and contractors created a signature 

building for the school's dance 

department. 

The movement of dance is echoed 

throughout the project, with the exterior 

shrouded with metal scrim that is twisted 

and warped to evoke specific dance 

movements. 

The metal scrim literally flows from 

the outside to the interior, becoming the 

ceiling of the lobby. 

The motion of dance replicated by the 

metal scrim transitions to gypsum “wiggle 

walls” in the 300 seat theater seating 

that undulate all the way to the proscenium 

of the stage. Structural steel 

columns leaning at 15 degrees also echo 

the movement of dance. 

As in most theaters, there is more to 

the 25,000-sq.-ft. project than just a place 

to watch a performance. Backhouse 

amenities include a dressing room that 

can double as a storage space, an orchestra 

pit and basement for more storage, 

and a large dance studio with a giant 

aluminum and glass storefront system 

looking out over a grassy mall. 

General contractor C.F. Jordan treated 

the job as three separate buildings 

when constructing the project. In the 

house area, much of the work was high 

up, especially on the stage, which has 

70-ft. high ceilings. As always, it was a 

challenge for mechanical and electrical 

contractors to fit their components into 

tight spaces. Although the theater relies 

on a central plant for heating and cooling, 

custom-built air handlers specifically 

built for this theater are used.

This 21,000-sq.-ft., two-story facility 

was planned by the City of Phoenix to 

address the problem of protecting a 

community that has experienced explosive 

growth over recent years. Their 

solution puts a multi-purpose public 

facility in the heart of the community, 

and accomplishes its main goal of 

reducing emergency response times in 

the area. The building incorporates two 

functions in one with the living quarters 

and support facilities for the fire station 

dominating the western portion of the 

building, a District Command Center 

on the east, and the apparatus bay centralized 

between the two. The fire station 

is home to a crew of 12 firefighters 

who manage a ladder engine, ambulance, 

ladder tender and an ALS engine. 

The District Command Center also 

includes a 900-sq.-ft. community room 

that is available to the public for meetings 

and events. 

The fire station design facilitates 

quick response times through the symmetrical 

layout of the facility around 

the apparatus bay. The design also 

gives the station its ability to endure 

daily wear and tear, with materials that 

not only help its endurance, but also 

add to its architectural beauty. 

Materials selected include integrally 

colored masonry on the exterior, integrally 

colored exposed concrete floors 

throughout the building, metal seam 

roofing, and 100 percent stainless steel 

construction of kitchen cabinets and 

countertops. The facility’s design uses 

the arch extensively in the roof, glass 

and apparatus bay doors. This dramatic 

element makes it stand out from its 

neighboring structures. It has also contributed 

to the community by screening 

an existing SRP substation from 



Best Public Project Under $5 Million 

City of Phoenix Fire Station No. 43 

Owner: City of Phoenix 

Architect: Breckenridge Group 

CM at Risk: Sundt Construction, Inc. 

Civil Engineer: ZGH Civil 

Structural Engineer: TLCP Structural 

MEP Engineer: LSW Engineering 

Concrete: Progressive Concrete 

the view of Chandler Boulevard. The 

project was the first CM-at-Risk project 

for the city of Phoenix.

Best Renovation Project Over $5 Million 

Superstition Springs Mall 

This 152,000-sq.-ft. renovation included 

new lighting, paint and handrails 

throughout the mall, as well as new 

flooring and elevator refurbishment. 

The new lighting stepped away from the 

harsh look was and provided a warmer 

tone. The old mesh wire handrails were 

outdated and contributed to a cluttered 

look because of the boundaries and 

obstructions they created. Instead, 

Weitz installed finished wood and 

glass bottom railings that instantly 

opened up the space. High-end, slatelike 

floor tile that was quarried from 

Germany and placed in random links 

also gave the mall an instantaneous 

facelift. In addition, the food court was 

renovated by refinishing the carousel 

area, installing Asia Series porcelain 

tile and additional handrails, and 

removing hanging architectural elements 

to open up the skylight and 

allow natural light to flood in that was 

blocked before. Creative ways were 

developed in order to concentrate on 

the biggest challenge, mall patron's 

safety. Covered transitions played a 

very important role, and in order to 

control dust, Weitz shut down the 

HVAC to control airflow and help manage 

the site. 

Weitz, the builder of the original 

Superstition Springs Mall, revived a 

mall that was beginning to lose its luster, 

but still was an important part of the 

Mesa community. The project showed 

that amidst the cluster of new malls and 

"big box" shopping centers, there is still 

a place for old favorites.

Best Renovation Project Under $5 Million 

Arizona Falls 

Built on a 20 ft. waterfall created in 

the late 1800’s during canal construction, 

Arizona Falls replaces the first hydroelectric 

plant in Phoenix. The plant, decommissioned 

in 1950, was no more than an 

eyesore, and had obscured the view of the 

falls since it was first built in 1902, until the 

falls were almost forgotten. 

The Phoenix Art Commission and 

Salt River Project teamed up to change 

all that, creating both a generating 

plant and an artistic public open space. 

Visitors, surrounded by water on three 

walls in the water room, can sit and 

enjoy the cool and soothing sounds of 

flowing water, while two aqueducts 

wrap around the area and create a feeling 

of being within a waterfall. A variety 

of waterfalls of different styles and sizes 

weave in and around the structure. One 

can see the antique gears of the original 

plant through the sheets of water, while 

the falls now generate up to 750 kilowatts 

of renewable energy using new 

equipment. The site construction also 

includes a ‘dance floor’ - a long flat platform 

at the top of the falls, and a pedestrian 

bridge with a wheelchair accessible 

pathway to take visitors underneath 

the falls.

The Christopher Creek project is part 

of a larger plan that will see 50 miles of 

new road built between Payson and 

Heber, with the state allocating $216 

million spread over the next 17 years. 

On the $32.5 million, 5.5-mile section, 

Kiewit Western Company erected 13 

bridges, including eight bridges specifically 

designed to create passages for 

migrating elk. The elk have long posed a 

problem for drivers on the road. 

The new road is a vast improvement 

over the existing route, with broad 

shoulders, better visibility and a quieter 

road with the application of rubberized 

asphalt. Much of the old S.R. 

260 will be abandoned and returned to 

its natural state. 

Engineers are also working to preserve 

the character of the area, with massive 

erosion control plans and a strict environmental 

plan regulated by the Forest 

Service and the Arizona Department of 

Environmental Quality.

This 2.4-mi. extension of State Route 

51 north of Bell Road includes a single 

point interchange as well as a major 

freeway-to-freeway interchange system 

with the Pima Freeway. 

One of the major challenges on this 

project was balancing the cut and fill 

requirements for more than 2 million 

cu. yds of material without reducing the 

storage volumes of a nearby flood plain. 

The number and variety of bridge 

structure types on this project spurred 

several innovative methods, including 

“top down” construction to speed construction 

and economize on bridge 

abutment construction work. 

The project was the first Maricopa 

Association of Government’s project to 

receive an Asphaltic Rubber Friction 

Course overlay on the mainline concrete 

paving to mitigate traffic noise.

Best Civil/ Infrastructure Project 

Sky Harbor Center Runway 

The project team had previous experience 

with a similar project in the reconstruction 

of the North Runway at Sky 

Harbor. To ensure success, thinking 

outside the box of the original design 

and innovative phasing and construction 

ideas were explored and implemented 

daily between the joint venture 

and the City. 

The project involved the reconstruction 

of approximately 400,000 sq. yds. 

of failing runways and taxiways, replacing 

it with 19-in. of Portland cement 

concrete pavement. Facets of the construction 

included excavation, site grading, 

subgrade preparation, asphalt pavement 

removal, aggregate placement, 

asphaltic concrete paving, infield 

paving, pavement markings, drainage 

system, replacement of existing lighting 

and signage, electrical and drainage 

structures. The contract required 

removal and replacement of the runway 

and taxiways within the runway safety 

area in 90 days, necessitating a 24 hour 

per day, 7 day per week schedule to meet 

the demands of the contract. However, 

once the job started, scheduling issues 

between construction traffic and airline 

traffic required a change in the design 

scenario. Not only did this re-phasing 

eliminate safety concerns, it also 

allowed the project to be completed in 

only 70 days. The project included pouring 

7,000 cu. yds. of concrete per day, 

laying 3,000 tons of asphaltic concrete 

per day, placing 7,000 tons of base per 

day, and 10,000 cu. yds. of excavation 

per day. More than 400 workers, and 

over 150 pieces of heavy equipment, 

were onsite daily.

Best Masonry Project 

Church of St. Thomas More 

Essentially a 180-ft. diameter circle, 

the entire vertical structure of St. 

Thomas More is built almost entirely of 

split-faced masonry. Even with the 

appearance of a full-expanse ceiling, the 

interior of the church is lit almost 

entirely with natural light. Light is 

brought into the church through three 

large “light monitors'” or vertical skylights 

that are 60 by 14 ft. 

Also along the inside perimeter of 

the wall is an almost constant band of 

a cleverly hidden skylight system, 

which allows natural light into the 

interior. Because of this indirect light 

source, there is very little heat factor 

associated with it, allowing the church 

to remain cool. Natural light is also 

allowed into the building through the 

church's massive 70 by 40 ft. stained 

glass window. Consuming almost the 

entire south side of the building, the 

stained glass was produced by Roger 

Hogan Studios and was delivered in 72 

separate pieces. 

To help control the sound in an all 

masonry building, the first 4 ft. of the 

perimeter wall was vertical with the following 

36 ft. of wall sloped back at a 7 - 

degree angle. The walls then go an additional 

5-ft. straight up into the small void 

between the top of the wall and the lowslung 

ceiling. This design allows for 

sound inside the church to remain soft 

and clear. 

The acoustics in the church are such 

that a person standing at the pulpit and 

speaking in a normal voice can be heard 

anywhere in the sanctuary. Upon entering 

the church's sanctuary, visitors 

encounter a large fountain in the shape 

of a 16-ft. long cross. The inner fountain 

is 5 ft. high with an outside trough that 

is 4 ft. high and wrapped in more than 

900 sq. ft. of imported granite. The 

floors throughout the church are a mix 

Owner: Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix 

Architect: DLR Group 

General Contractor: McCarthy Building 

Companies 

Civil Engineer: Atherton Engineering 

Structural Engineer: DLR Group 

MEP Engineer: DLR Group 

Masonry: Rhino Masonry 

Concrete: Progressive Concrete Works 



of polished, colored and stamped concrete 

that were poured as late in the construction 

as possible.

Best Green Building Project 

Milagro Community 

Owners and builders faced several 

challenges in developing this prototype 

community. This “green build” project 

takes several factors into consideration, 

including water conservation through 

rainwater harvesting and waste water re 

use to create landscaping without using 

potable water. 

The community consists of 28 homes 

clustered a central pedestrian “spine” 

with off site parking connected to the 

development by paths for both pedestrians 

and electric cars. 

The project optimizes thermal mass 

using adobe walls, with operable windows 

and a vented roof. Extensive use of 

overhangs and shading cuts thermal 

loading, while a high effciency heat 

pump with a heat exchanger reduces 

energy consumption. 

The project features roof-ready photo 

voltaic cells with a solar water heater 

and an “Ice House” venting system in 

the roof, which is insulated with R-30 

insulation. The semi-attached homes 

have blackwater recycling by way of subsurface 

“wetlands” that discharge water 

tobe reused for maintaining the landscaping. 

There is also a rainwater harvesting 

system on the roof, along with a 

cistern for water retention. 

Only 8 acres of the 43-acre site is 

used for residences, leaving approximately 

35 acres for a nature preserve, a 

community orchard and landscape 

preservation.

Best Concrete Project 

Maricopa County 4th Ave. Jail 

To blend in with its downtown setting, 

the 4th Ave. Jail more resembles a 

large office building or manufacturing 

facility than a state-of-the-art correctional 

facility. The exterior of the jail is a mix 

of decorative polished aluminum panels, 

glass block and more than 150,000 

red bricks used on the building's facade. 

Behind these exterior walls are more 

than 1,100 cells, a special management 

unit, onsite medical facilities, exercise 

spaces and a secured visitor system, all 

guarded by some of the most elaborate 

and high-tech security systems available. 

Officers delivering prisoners to 

the jail will enter through a secured, 

street-level garage entrance. For prisoners 

that must appear in Maricopa 

County Superior Court, there is a 

secured underground tunnel between 

the Jail and court buildings. In all more 

than 45,000 cu. yds. of concrete were 

poured to form the Jail's five floors. The 

concrete pour required more than 4,500 

trucks of concrete. 

McCarthy purchased a custom-built 

forming system from a local fabrication 

company, that allowed more than 50 ft. 

of chase wall to be poured per day for the 

six months needed to form the main 

structure of the building. With the capability 

of holding more than 1,360 prisoners, 

the 4th Avenue Jail will help to ease 

some of the overcrowding issues that 

Maricopa County faces. In addition, the 

jail will provide one of the most secure 

facilities in the country, and will serve as 

a test bed for some of the newer technologies 

and construction techniques 

incorporated into the facility.

The expansion and renovation of 

Komatke Hall on the Estrella Mountain 

Community College campus has been 

pursued conceptually as an oasis in the 

desert. As the campus provides intellectual 

nourishment to the local community, 

so do the resources of Komatke Hall 

provide the same vital service to the 

campus. This project ties together many 

diverse functions, including student 

enrollment services, administrative 

offices, bookstore, campus dining and 

lounge areas, student activity areas and 

a culinary arts program. The organizational 

planning coupled with the expressive 

use of materials signals to the first 

time student that this gateway building 

provides the hub for student life, in a 

friendly and inviting atmosphere. 

The college has integrated regional 

artists into the design process since the 

inception of the campus. The steel “butterfly” 

canopy at the building entrance 

has column covers that were conceptualized 

by Tucson artist Barbara 

Grygutis. Flowering vines will eventually 

creep up the structural support and 

spread to the transparent steel-grating 

roof. The steel trellis at the pedestrian 

arcades provides cost effective solar 

shading with appropriate transparency 

and durability. A conscious effort to utilize 

durable timeless materials that 

complement the existing campus were 

realized with exterior walls of stained 

concrete masonry units and integrally 

colored cast-in-place architectural concrete 

walls that form the arcades for 

campus circulation, and the steel construction 

that provides solar shading for 

the exterior patios.

Best Interior Project 

Aji Spa 

The Aji Spa is designed to evoke the 

traditional building forms of the Gila 

River Indian Community. The Aji Spa 

is a state-of-the-art, 17,000-sq.-ft. facility 

with 17 treatment rooms, hydro spas, 

plunges, a fitness center and cafe and 

boutiques and lounges. 

The spa design is inspired by the natural 

surroundings, with a winding river 

through the facility. For the interior, the 

architect designed an intricate space 

plan incorporating an elaborate series of 

transitional and destination spaces 

evoking ancient the ancient building 

plans and architecture of the Southwest. 

The incorporation of domes into the 

design recreated traditional “olas kih,” 

building forms that are inspired by the 

natural surroundings such as the mountains 

and spires of the desert. 

The building was sited to create a 

sense of removal from the surrounding 

resort property, while taking advantage 

of the river setting. The arms of the 

building enclose an oasis sanctuary 

complete with native plant life and a 

river pool theme. 

An east facing entry welcomes the 

sun, an important incorporation of the 

tribe’s sun worshipping heritage. 

The interior design incorporated rich and 

detailed finishes with materials and the aesthetics 

of the Gila River culture. As a result, 

the spa conveys to visitors the culture, arts 

and history of the native people.

Best Design Build Project Over $5 Million 

US 60 

The design intention for the U.S. 60 

project was to present residents and 

travelers with an open, rolling desert 

landscape along the route that is typical 

of the area and to eliminate the costly, 

artificial and confining visual effect of 

retaining walls along both sides of the 

highway. Quiet, rubberized asphalt was 

used to reduce traffic noise and further 

enhance the driving experience. 

The reconstruction and widening project 

began at the 1-10 Interchange and 

extended for 12 miles east to Val Vista 

Drive. It included construction of an 

HOV connector bridge from 1-10 to U.S. 

60, HOV lanes throughout the project, 

bridge widening, and earthwork to 

accommodate extra travel lanes, as well 

as two additional general-purpose lanes 

through 8 mi. of the project that went 

through the city of Mesa. Soil nail 

retaining walls with architectural fascia 

treatment were used where necessary, 

and new noise walls, electrical/Freeway 

Management Systems and landscaping 

were also included. The freeway widening 

made the addition of 1.2 million sq. 

ft. of sound walls a necessity for noise 

abatement. 

‘Success was apparent with 

an 84 percent public 

approval rating on the 

US60 work, the highest 

mark ever achieved in public 

opinion polling on an 

Arizona highway project.’ 

Success was apparent with an 84 percent 

public approval rating on the US60 

work, the highest mark ever achieved in 

public opinion polling on an Arizona 

highway project, which is especially significant 

since this was the largest trans- 

Owner: Arizona Department of Transportation 

Lead Design: Parsons Transportation Group 

General Contractor: Granite 2 / Sundt a Joint 

Venture 

Engineer: URS Coporation/ Terracon 

FMS Design/ Design Mgmt.: TransCore 

Geotechnical Engineer: Golder Associates 



portation project in ADOT history, as 

well as one of the busiest freeways. 

Design innovation enabled the team to 

eliminate 12 mi. of retaining walls and 

thereby deliver the project at a far lower 

cost than originally estimated.

The Roman Catholic Diocese of 

Phoenix purchased an existing private 

elementary school campus for renovation 

and expansion, turning it into the 

Notre Dame Preparatory High School. 

The original 26-acre campus in north 

Scottsdale consisted of four classroom 

buildings, one administration building 

and a cafeteria building. The existing 

classroom space was renovated into 

computer commons, a library and a student 

services center, while a new covered 

outdoor eating area was added next 

to the existing cafeteria. New additions 

include a freestanding 100-seat chapel, 

a two-story 16-classroom building with 

an amphitheater, as well as a 1,200-seat 

gymnasium complete with locker 

rooms, wrestling room, weight room, 

athletic directors' offices and a concession 

stand. A new master plan was 

developed to address the 10-acre campus 

expansion while considering 

Scottsdale's Natural Area Open Space 

requirements as well as a desire to preserve 

the desert environment. A solution 

was achieved through the use of a 

central spline with circulatory pedestrian 

paths that facilitate the integration of 

new and renovated portions of the campus. 

The construction of the project was 

completed through the CM-at-Risk 

method of delivery. The chapel was strategically 

sited along a natural wash with 

direct access to the cafeteria. Together, 

these components serve as anchors for 

the campus, providing a central commons 

for student gatherings.

This new facility for the Arizona 

Department of Health Services upgrades 

the state's ability to diagnose chemical 

and biological hazards utilizing state-ofthe-art 

technology. One of the primary 

functions of the lab is to provide “newborn 

screening” for all newborn infants 

within the state. 

The structure is three-stories tall with 

a penthouse and provides 75,000 sq. ft. 

of floor space. One of the major 

requirements of this facility was the 

control and quality of the air in each 

laboratory. As this building is made up 

of 34 separate labs, including a bio- terrorism 

lab, normal HVAC systems 

could not be used. 

Due to the critical nature of the 

experiments, up to 33 percent redundancy 

was required to be incorporated 

into the design of the mechanical and 

electrical systems. The lab layout, 

which includes Bio Safety Level 3 labs, 

dictated a segregation of the air supply 

and exhaust systems. This design 

allows the lab staff to conduct diagnostic 

experiments in a safe and 

secure environment. These requirements 

amounted in a higher than normal 

number of mechanical systems to 

be installed.

Scottsdale Hangar One

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?