The US Airways (formerly America West) Corporate Headquarters located in Tempe, Arizona consists of a 225,000 square foot, 10-story corporate office building that houses general offices, a medical clinic, interactive training rooms, reception and banquet areas, executive offices, and other corporate support services in an open floor plan environment. In addition, the campus includes an adjacent 650-car, five-level (one below grade and four above grade) precast parking structure with automated parking systems, elevators, sun screen structures, an on-grade pedestrian open-air connector to the office building, and additional common areas. This is Phase I of a master planned three-phase campus project that was designed to embody a corporate image overlooking the Rio Salado waterfront and that also reflects the City of Tempe's “bricks-and-mortar” architecture.
The project broke ground on January 10, 1999 with the demolition of 7 existing low-rise buildings and commenced with construction of the 10-story tower, and simultaneously constructed the precast parking facility. The project was substantially complete in 15 months. The project was constructed while minimizing pedestrian traffic pattern and flow issues, insuring the adjacent businesses were not impacted during construction and remained open and accessible, and during multiple City of Tempe and Arizona State University annual events and festivals.
Holder played a critical role in managing the budget by working with the design team in a collaborative relationship. Through the course of design completion, construction, additional scope inclusions, revised owner programming, and city development requirements, the preliminary GMP added approximately $900,000 in additional and revised scope. This additional work was completed in the original project schedule. Detailed coordination and planning was undertaken to insure the owner equipment move-in and setup, personnel relocations, and furniture moves were all completed within the original project time frames and interruption were minimized.
The complexity of the project is second to none in the downtown Tempe area. This project is a great example of the outcome of a team approach, open book, construction process. The close coordination between the owner, Holder and architect resulted in great quality experience and product despite the fast-track design and construction schedule which incorporated additional scope and multiple program revision requirements, ornate finishes, coordination of the public areas and reception areas in the lobby, and tie-in to public areas and pathways of the city.
The project was the recipient of the 1999 Best of NAIOP Office Build to Suit Building of the Year.