Cognizant, a Fortune 500 digital technology firm and one of the world’s leading professional services companies, opened its newest U.S. regional center at 1130 N. Alma School Road in Mesa.

“Cognizant is an exciting addition to Mesa,” Mayor John Giles said. “Their decision to expand to Mesa is a great endorsement of our business-friendly environment and the work they do to help companies transform their business with specialized technology is at the epicenter of the IT industry.”

They are joining many other technology-driven companies at Waypoint within Mesa Riverview. 

Occupying two floors and 50,000 square feet, Cognizant will invest $4.5 million this year in the Mesa facility and bring more than 500 new jobs to the site to serve companies in 15 industry sectors including banking, consumer goods, education healthcare manufacturing and transportation.  

The new jobs will be full-time, technology and business professionals who provide business process services as well as software application development and maintenance.

“The amazing number of jobs Cognizant is bringing to this facility will help solidify Mesa as a leader in tech industry careers. This location at Waypoint in District 1 is ideal for the workforce, because of its proximity to two major freeways and the retail and restaurant options right next door,” District 1 Councilmember Mark Freeman said.

The 35-acre Waypoint totals four buildings designed to accommodate single- and multiple-occupancy tenants. It sits adjacent to Mesa’s Riverview district, which offers 1.3 million square feet of retail, restaurants, entertainment and the upscale Sheraton and Hyatt Place hotels. Also, within Riverview are Riverview Lake and Sloan Park, home of the Chicago Cubs spring training facility.

“Waypoint was located and built with an eye toward serving the modern corporate tenant. We are thrilled to welcome Cognizant, and to see our efforts put to use by an exceptional Fortune 195 company,” said Harvard Investments President and CEO Craig Krumwiede, who serves as the project developer along with Lincoln Property Company.

“With the addition of Cognizant, our 430,000-square-foot Waypoint campus is now 95 percent leased,” said Lincoln Property Company Executive Vice President David Krumwiede. “It creates a very dynamic place for Cognizant, and all of our tenants, to grow and thrive.”

The City of Mesa partnered with Cognizant and the Arizona Commerce Authority on this project. For more information about Cognizant go to www.cognizant.com