Lee & Associates to Lease SkySong, The ASU Scottsdale Innovation Center
SCOTTSDALE (February 9, 2009) – Developers of SkySong, the ASU Scottsdale Innovation Center, announced that Lee & Associates, one of the nation’s largest commercial real estate firms, was awarded the leasing assignment for the 37-acre, mixed-use international business and innovation center in Scottsdale. Craig Coppola, Mark Seale, Chris Krewson and Andrew Cheney from the Arizona office of Lee & Associates will be the marketing team for the project. The first two buildings, totaling 300,000 square feet, are up and running with a strong tenant mix. The development will ultimately consist of 1.2 million square feet of commercial and retail space in addition to residential units. SkySong will serve the needs of businesses, research and technology industry and academia while building vital networks between university innovations, regional progress and the global technology industry.
Located at the southeast intersection of Scottsdale and McDowell Roads at the site of the former Los Arcos mall, SkySong is strategically positioned between downtown Scottsdale and Arizona State University’s Main campus in Tempe and has convenient access to the 101 and 202 freeways and Sky Harbor airport. Anchored by the iconic SkySong shade structure, the project is built around a densely landscaped grand boulevard and plaza.
ASU is one of the key tenants of SkySong’s first phase. By combining technology, innovation, education and business in a collaborative environment, SkySong has attracted innovative companies whose global business success is enhanced by access to ASU’s human and technological assets. Several premier ASU programs that facilitate the transfer of technology developed at ASU into the marketplace, as well as develop new entrepreneurial talent from within the University and business community, are located at SkySong. Currently, more than 40 international companies or programs are located or participating with ASU at SkySong. No other development like it exists in the United States.
Higgins Development Partners and The Plaza Companies are co-developers of the project in partnership with Arizona State University Foundation and USAA Real Estate Company.
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ABOUT LEE & ASSOCIATES
As a group of independently owned and operated companies, Lee & Associates currently has 35 offices located in major markets across the United States. Lee & Associates’ clients enjoy a comprehensive range of specialized commercial real estate services including: industrial, office, multifamily and retail property sales and leasing; real estate investment consulting, property acquisition and disposition; tenant representation and relocation, land assemblage, site selection, mixed-use and urban in-fill, property and portfolio evaluation and market research. Additional information is available at www.lee-associates.com.
ABOUT THE DEVELOPERS
Higgins Development Partners and Plaza Companies are co-developers of the project in partnership with Arizona State University Foundation and USAA Real Estate Company.
Higgins Development Partners is a national real estate and development company headquartered in Chicago with offices throughout the US and in Toronto. The company has created more than $4 billion in development value since 1980. It has extensive phased campus development experience. www.higginsdevelopment.com
Plaza Companies is an Arizona-based full service real estate company started in 1982. The portfolio of projects and communities developed and managed by the company is valued at more than $1 Billion. www.theplazaco.com
USAA Real Estate Company, with over $5 billion assets under management, provides co-investment, acquisition, build-to-suit and development services for corporate and institutional investors. In addition the company provides separate accounts and investment funds for domestic and foreign investors. The USAA portfolio consists of office, industrial, retail and hotel properties with annual volume transactions exceeding $1.5 billion. USAA Real Estate Company is a subsidiary of USAA, which has served military families since 1922 and has become one of America’s leading financial services companies. For more information about USAA Real Estate Company, visit www.usrealco.com.
The ASU Foundation is an independent non-profit organization that acts as the principal agent through which gifts are made to benefit the Arizona State University. The mission of the ASU Foundation is to solicit, manage and disburse the proceeds of gifts made to ASU. www.asufoundation.org
Media Contacts:
Eric Hamilton, Lee & Associates Media Relations
310-373-0103
www.lee-associates.com
Michele Irwin, SkySong Media Relations
602-390-9226
www.skysongcenter.com
Alison Bendler, ASU at SkySong Marketing Manager
480-884-1654
http://skysong.asu.edu