Phoenix-based developer George Oliver has completed the $56.5 million sale of CASA, an experiential, Class A office redevelopment bringing next-generation amenities to its tenants in Phoenix’s popular Uptown neighborhood. At $312 per-square-foot, the CASA sale sets a new value record for the Piestewa Peak submarket.
Ryan Timpani and Nick Bialkowski of JLL are the exclusive leasing brokers for CASA. JLL’s Benjamin Geelan and Brian Ackerman represented George Oliver on the building sale. The buyer is Macquarie Asset Management, a specialist global asset manager.
“CASA was designed and amenitized to enhance our tenants’ ability to recruit and retain top quality employees,” said George Oliver Managing Partner Curt Kremer. “Even during a pandemic, CASA’s leasing activity allowed us to deliver CASA to Macquarie Asset Management at 100 percent committed – underscoring the strength of the asset now and its ability to continue to perform for Macquarie over the long term as we move into an improving, return-to-office economy.”
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While COVID halted many large metro Phoenix leases, strong tenant demand at CASA over the past 18 months pushed the property’s occupancy. Existing tenants at CASA include Rockwell Automation, City National Bank, The Money Store, Olsson, Phoenix Association of Realtors, North & Co. and local favorite Kaleidoscope Juice, which operates an on-site café and lounge serving organic food, coffee and juice.
A final lease push this summer brought the building to fully committed with the new Medicom headquarters relocation from North Carolina and new offices for DR Horton Title and Cross Country Mortgage.
“Foreign and domestic investors are showing a clear preference for differentiated, experiential office space and CASA epitomizes that. The amenities and design that George Oliver has incorporated into this project make it a truly one-of-a-kind asset that redefines what it means to ‘go to work,’” said Geelan. “That combination was reflected in the almost unparalleled interest we received for this investment opportunity.”
Located off of the Piestewa Freeway/State Route 51 and Northern Avenue, at 7878 N. 16th Street, CASA mixes modern Spanish architecture with lifestyle amenities designed around health and wellness. Among these are a 60-guest conference center, library, wellness center with a yoga room, fitness center and on-site meditation room.
The project includes high-finished office space as well as co-working suites in CASA Coworking that are fully furnished with access to shared conference rooms and breakrooms, a private coworking lounge, high speed internet access, and the building’s full-time concierge.
Two centralized courtyards with a water feature serve as hubs for relaxation and collaboration. CASA also includes a dog park and a two-story dining experience with dedicated food truck parking, shaded outdoor dining and outdoor game and lounge areas.
CASA is part of a growing local portfolio of notable George Oliver projects including The Alexander and The Johnathan in downtown Chandler, Lofts at The District in North Scottsdale, and the just-announced Hayden Station office transformation in downtown Tempe.
George Oliver purchased CASA, previously known as Catalina Terraces, in December 2018. For more, visit www.uptowncasa.com.