Sometimes, a little fresh air is all it takes to get the creative ideas and innovation flowing.
So, as part of efforts to enhance an already exceptional work environment, SkySong, The ASU Scottsdale Innovation Center has created a new “Outdoor Living Room” work environment where employees working at the project can collaborate and conduct business while enjoying Arizona’s weather and scenic beauty.
The Outdoor Living Room space is the first of its kind in the Valley of the Sun, and includes a combination of stunning furniture and public spaces along with the wifi connectivity and power supply necessary for working in the 21st Century business world.
And the outdoor spaces will be expanded and enhanced in the coming months to prepare for the opening of SkySong 3 and other new features in the project.
The Outdoor Living Room includes comfortable chairs from renowned architect and designer Frank Gehry’s collection as well as high-top seating for meetings and collaboration. Hayes Architecture + Interiors is leading the project from a design standpoint, with the goal of creating a truly unique environment for interactive work and brainstorming.
It’s one of a number of steps being taken at SkySong to enhance the SkySong experience and create more connectivity in the project.
Sharon Harper, President & CEO of Plaza Companies, the master developer of SkySong, said the Outdoor Living Room spaces are part of the spirit of collaboration that has defined the project from Day 1.
“We are very proud of the work environment we have created for the companies at SkySong, where they can come together and make the most of technology to grow and enhance their businesses,” she said. “We heard from many people working at SkySong each day that they wanted more opportunities to interact with other professionals in the project, and we thought that creating inviting outdoor amenities was a great way of meeting that need for the companies working there.”
SkySong has already added food trucks on the fourth Thursday of each month as well as a First Friday trolley service into Old Town Scottsdale. These new additions will culminate with the opening of SkySong 3, scheduled to take place this summer.
SkySong, the ASU Scottsdale Innovation Center is a home to a global business community that links technology, entrepreneurship, innovation, and education to position ASU and Greater Phoenix as global leaders of the knowledge economy.
SkySong is a 42-acre mixed use development designed to:
- Create an ecology of collaboration and innovation among high-profile technology enterprises and related researchers;
- Advance global business objectives of on-site enterprises;
- Raise Arizona’s profile as a global center of innovation through co-location of ASU’s strategic global partners; and
- Create a unique regional economic and social asset.
Companies located at SkySong enjoy a special relationship with Arizona State University, which has more than 73,000 students at four metropolitan Phoenix campuses. Its campus in Tempe is the single largest campus in the U.S., and is located less than three miles from SkySong.
In addition to locating its own innovative research units at the center, ASU provides tenants with direct access to relevant research, educational opportunities and cultural events on its campuses. Through ASU’s on-site operations, tenant companies have a single point of contact for introductions to researchers, faculty and programs to address their specific needs.
For more information on SkySong, visit www.skysongcenter.com or www.facebook.com/skysongcenter.
