On March 1, AZRE hosted the 7th Annual RED Awards reception at the Arizona Biltmore in Phoenix to recognize the most notable commercial real estate projects of 2011 and the construction teams involved. AZRE held an open call for nominations and a record 116 projects were submitted by architects, contractors, developers and brokerage firms in Arizona. This year, the winner for Best Education Project was Grand Canyon University Arena.


Best Education Project

Grand Canyon University Arena

Developer: Grand Canyon University
Contractor: Perini Building Company
Architect: Architekton and 360 Architecture
Size: 135,000 SF
Location: 3300 W. Camelback Rd., Phoenix
Completed: September, 2011

Grand Canyon UniversityThe Grand Canyon University Arena is the focal point of the school’s $200M expansion project. The 5,000-seat facility was completed in a little more than a year without disrupting students’ class schedules, events or parking availability. Amenities include five high-definition video boards, an outdoor balcony, five concession stands and a carpeted expansive concourse. Glass panels on the north and south sides of the arena provide onlookers a view of the various events taking place inside. The arena adheres to sustainability through its use of high-efficiency lighting, chillers and a Variprime system that operates with changeable water pumps depending on the amount needed. In addition, the design stays true to the campus architecture as the brick base of the arena ties it to the brick buildings of the historic 60-year-old campus.

gcu.edu


Video by Cory Bergquist


Honorable Mention

NAU Health and Learning Center

Developer: Northern Arizona University
Contractor: Mortenson Construction
Architect: OWP/P Cannon Design
Size: 277,000 SF
Location: 105 E. Franklin Ave., Flagstaff
Completed: July, 2011


Video by Cory Bergquist


RED Awards 2012 Winners & Finalists

AZRE Magazine March/April 2012