AO, a leading full-service architecture firm with design expertise spanning the full spectrum of commercial real estate, has announced its latest surf-anchored destination, PHX Surf, a 40- acre, mixed-use resort, expected to break ground in Maricopa city in March 2026. Developed by PHX Surf, the project will deliver an immersive, surf-centered experience powered by Endless Surf’s pneumatic wave technology, producing world-class waves for surfers of all skill levels. 

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Serving as Architect of Record, Design Architect, and Landscape Architect, AO is leading the design of the surf facility, lagoon infrastructure, and surrounding resort components. The destination will feature: 

  • One ES 48 surf lagoon at 137,000 square feet 
  • A hotel district including a resort center building for guest amenities, and 100 individual bungalows, some with roof decks, organically clustered around the lagoon. The resort bungalows will be 3D printed and designed by Icon 
  • F&B overlooking the beach, a full-service spa facility with wellness center, outdoor gardens and pools, and fitness center 
  • A retail district with surf shop, retail and restaurant uses 
  • A Surf Center & Surf Academy Village comprising administration/ticketing, meeting facility, surf shop, locker rooms, and surf center offices and academy 
  • Phase 2 is anticipated to include an event/entertainment venue (3.73 acres), water park (17.81 acres), pump track (1.2 acres), and RV district (4.37 acres, comprised of 30 campsites)

“PHX Surf is so much more than a wave pool. It is a fully realized ecosystem where the surf experience becomes the central axis of hospitality, recreation and community. Our team is working on surf-resort destinations around the world, but PHX Surf stands apart because of the development team’s unique focus on health and wellness. That vision has elevated the project into something truly distinct and inspiring, a place where people can connect, recharge and experience the desert in an entirely new way,” said Bruce Greenfield, Partner at AO 

The resort’s design fosters a “barefoot luxury” experience tied to it’s place in the desert, balancing high-end amenities with natural materials and a sense of effortless connection between wellness, sport, and a lifestyle inspired by the desert oasis surroundings. . 

“From the moment we first envisioned PHX Surf rising from the desert, the spark has been about more than waves – it’s been about partnership. I’m grateful to stand alongside our incredible collaborators at AO, Pro Swell, Endless Surf, and the City of Maricopa, each of whom bring bold vision, unwavering dedication and true heart. Together we’re not just building an attraction, we’re crafting a desert oasis where surf, wellness and community converge. The foundations are in place, the energy is real, and the future is bright for PHX Surf,” said Erin LaGrassa, CEO of PHX Surf. 

PHX Surf represents AO’s 11th surf-anchored project, joining a growing portfolio that includes DSRT Surf in Palm Desert, CA, Wavegarden Atlantic Park in Virginia Beach, VA, HTX Surf in Houston, TX, and Alchemy Surf in Sacramento, CA. Together, these developments showcase AO’s expanding expertise in surf-anchored and sports-driven destinations, where architecture, recreation, and hospitality converge to shape the next generation of lifestyle resorts across the U.S.