Each year, AZRE magazine’s RED Awards commemorates the meticulous work accomplished by the teams of companies who shepherd projects of all kinds from initial concept to final delivery. Each category represents the finest the industry has to offer — state-of-the-art education buildings, chic offices spaces, lavish hotels, modern apartments and so much more. Today, take a deeper look at the mixed-use project of the year finalists.

The 2026 RED Awards will honor finalists and announce winners in 18 categories on Thursday, March 19 at the Embassy Suites Scottsdale. The year’s top developer, general contractor, architecture firm and subcontractor will also be celebrated. 

The RED Awards VIP sponsor is Haydon Companies, the spotlight sponsor is Core Construction, the beverage sponsor is DP Electric, the dessert sponsor is Layton Construction, the step and repeat sponsor is Suntec Concrete, the valet sponsor is Stevens-Leinweber Construction, the giveaway sponsor is Willmeng Construction, the 360 photo booth sponsor is Ironmark Building Company and the floral sponsor is Arizona Escrow.  

Tickets for the 2026 RED Awards can be found here.  

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Here are the finalists for the Mixed-use project category: 

Rainbow Road Apartments  

Image courtesy of räkkhaus
  • Developer: Intersection Development  
  • General contractor: Irwin Construction  
  • Architect: räkkhaus  
  • Owner: Rainbow Road RORO  
  • City: Phoenix 
  • Size: 41,485 square feet 

Rainbow Road is a mixed-use, art-based multifamily project that treats placemaking as core infrastructure — not decoration. In the Roosevelt Row Arts District, where culture is the neighborhood’s real anchor tenant, Rainbow Road was conceived as a living piece of civic art: architecture that stops people, pulls them closer and rewards them at street level. 

Drawing from the playful essence of the Mario Kart universe, the five-story sculptural building houses 36 boutique residences within a dynamic composition of irregular parallelograms across twelve angled façades. The bold black exterior amplifies the district’s gritty creative energy while the geometry and trapezoidal glazing create a constantly shifting pedestrian experience — light, shadow and reflection changing with every step. 

What elevates Rainbow Road from “designed” to authored is the depth of collaboration with local makers. Just outside the building, a sidewalk art overlay — a walkable graphic field inspired by the Rainbow Road gradient — was installed by Creative Paving, extending the project’s identity directly into the public realm. To support pedestrians and cyclists, custom bike racks and benches — their profiles a literal interpretation of the Rainbow Road track — were fabricated by Spectacle Works, with carefully coordinated color accents that echo the project’s palette. Inside, the lobby is transformed by a rainbow-hued ceiling installation by Porter Barn Wood, turning arrival into an immersive, craft-forward experience. 

With 6,057 square feet of activated retail and an intentional public-facing outdoor space, Rainbow Road strengthens Roosevelt Row’s walkability, identity and momentum — proving that thoughtful, art-led development can be both commercially viable and culturally meaningful. 

Novus Place 

Image courtesy of Catellus
  • Developer: Fox Restaurant Concepts / Catellus  
  • General contractor: A.R. Mays Construction  
  • Architect: Nelsen Partners  
  • Owner: Fox Restaurant Concepts / Catellus  
  • City: Tempe 
  • Size: 135,448 square feet 

Novus Innovation Corridor represents Arizona State University’s vision to generate long-term revenue by supporting collegiate athletic facilities while integrating corporate and campus innovation. Novus Place serves as the dining and entertainment hub, delivering four simultaneous projects, a signature shade canopy and three full restaurant build-outs from shell through tenant improvement, constructed concurrently to create the corridor’s central gathering destination. 

The shade canopy stands as the visual anchor, designed as Arizona’s reimagined version of Chicago’s Bean, a sculptural element functioning as a performance stage. Engineering and modeling took a full year to achieve construction-ready documents, resulting in a landmark structure defining the entire corridor.  Three Fox Restaurant Concepts were delivered simultaneously: casual to-go venues and sleek sit-down establishments, each requiring complete shell and tenant improvement work including full kitchen installations, custom finishes, and coordinated MEP systems. 

Four projects on one site meant four sets of inspections, four occupancy timelines and one shared construction zone. Each restaurant was bid with separate trade teams ensuring independent schedule control. Daily coordination meetings kept all components aligned, with the team addressing issues collectively rather than in silos. 

The Governor  

Photo courtesy of Hyphen Communities
  • Developer: Hyphen Communities  
  • General contractor: A.R. Mays Construction  
  • Architect: Todd & Associates  
  • Owner: Hyphen Communities  
  • City: Phoenix 
  • Size: 187,982 square feet 

The Governor sits on one of Arizona’s most historically significant residential sites, the former home of the state’s first Governor. This 176-unit multifamily development required more than standard ground-up construction; it demanded the preservation and integration of existing historical structures into a thoroughly modern residential community. That combination of preservation and new construction defined every decision throughout the project. 

The design vision from Todd & Associates called for four stories of studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom units rising above a podium parking structure, anchored by revitalized original retail buildings that give the development its distinctive character. Those retail structures were integral to the project’s identity and required careful integration with new construction elements while maintaining their historical integrity. 

When electrical equipment was identified as carrying a year-plus lead time, the construction team engaged the electrical contractor early in preconstruction and leveraged relationships with the utility company to accelerate the approval process. That proactive coordination kept equipment procurement on pace with construction sequencing and eliminated what could have been a major schedule constraint. 

The Governor delivered 176 high-quality residential units with amenities that define modern urban living: a rooftop lounge with panoramic views, a premium fitness center, yoga and flex space, clubhouse and game room, entertainment deck with communal gathering areas, BBQ facilities, pet wash, secure storage, bicycle parking, and comprehensive package services. The revitalized retail structures provide on-site dining and unique retail experiences that activate the street level and contribute to the neighborhood’s character. 

Saiya

Image courtesy of Hatteras Sky
  • Developer: Hatteras Sky  
  • General contractor: JE Dunn Construction Company  
  • Architect: Shepley Bulfinch  
  • Subcontractors: HACI, Suntec Concrete, IAP, SECON  
  • City: Phoenix 
  • Size: 607,465 square feet 

Located in the Roosevelt Row Arts District, Saiya spans approximately 605,000 square feet spread across a 23-story tower, 6-story tower and a single-story historic courtyard building. The project delivers 389 residential units, with ground-floor commercial and restaurant space. The redevelopment approaches the infill site with a permeable concept. At the pedestrian level, a paseo weaves through and connects the vibrant commercial corridor to the adjacent well-established residential neighborhood. The public alley was reimagined and incorporated into the project and enhances walkability and urban connectivity, with a primary entrance into the residential lobby and commercial uses.  

Residential amenities include two pools, a fitness center, sauna, rooftop lounges, sunset deck, concierge services, game and co-working spaces, and dog parks vertically distributed within the project.Saiya’s art program reinforces the area’s creative identity and incorporates local artwork at multiple scales, with Arizona’s largest exterior mural and 5 major interior installations. 

Sol Modern 

Image by Daniel Kellghan Photography, courtesy of LG Group
  • Developer: LG Group  
  • General contractor: Layton Construction  
  • Architect: bKL Architecture  
  • Owner: 601 Central Oz  
  • Subcontractors: Thornton Tomasetti, Peterson Associates Consulting Engineers 
  • City: Phoenix 
  • Size: 1,450,000 square feet 

Rising 29 stories above the heart of Downtown Phoenix, Sol Modern reshapes the city’s skyline as its largest residential high-rise and most expansive urban living development. Spanning an entire city block and totaling 1.3 million square feet, the project introduces 747 new homes to the city’s rapidly growing core and delivers a modern, mixed-use environment designed to elevate how residents live, connect, and experience downtown.  

At street level, Sol Modern integrates seamlessly into the fabric of the neighborhood with 30,000 square feet of retail and a pedestrian-friendly streetscape. Above, the tower offers an unmatched amenity package across multiple levels, including the largest multifamily pool in Phoenix, an outdoor kitchen and lounge, cabanas, citrus groves, fitness turf, half-court basketball, water features, a dog park, two additional pools and spas, rooftop greenery, and expansive views of the Valley.  

Delivering a project of this scale in a dense downtown setting required exceptional coordination, creative problem-solving, and a relentless commitment to safety and schedule. The constricted site demanded innovative approaches to logistics, including truck routing, crane positioning, trade partner sequencing and material staging. Early soils and foundation challenges added complexity, prompting the team to redesign the original foundation approach and rework the concrete schedule to prioritize the owner’s goal of completing residential units earlier in the program. Despite these constraints, the team maintained steady momentum — placing nearly 1,000 cubic yards of concrete each week, often before dawn, to keep the tower climbing.  

The Maeve Central Station and ANOVA Central Station  

Image courtesy of GMH Communities
  • Developer: GMH Communities  
  • General contractor: Layton Construction  
  • Architect: Multistudio  
  • City: Phoenix 
  • Size: 1,033,950 square feet 

Central Station is a transformative redevelopment that redefines what a modern, transit-oriented district can be in  the heart of Phoenix. Rising from the former Greg Stanton Central Station transit depot, the 1 million-square-foot, 2.5-acre project introduces a new civic gateway for downtown — elevating mobility, housing, public space and sustainable design in one of the nation’s fastest-growing cities. 

The development is anchored by two architecturally striking towers designed by Multistudio: The Maeve Central Station, a 33-story mixed-use tower, and ANOVA Central Station, a 22-story residential tower with dedicated student housing. Together, they deliver 338 residential units, 629 student beds and 7% workforce housing, expanding housing diversity for downtown residents, students, and professionals. Both towers rise above a two-level, 200,000-square-foot subterranean parking structure — an engineering feat requiring extensive coordination and precision. 

Central Station reimagines a once utilitarian transit site as a vibrant, people-focused urban center. A porous civic plaza stitches together bus bays, Valley Metro light rail, bike facilities, retail, restaurants and shaded pedestrian pathways, seamlessly connecting to Civic Space Park, the ASU Downtown Phoenix campus, and surrounding civic anchors. More than 30,000 square feet of street-level retail and dining activate the site throughout the day, while desert-adapted landscaping, wide sidewalks and shade-first design prioritize comfort and walkability.