Continued New Leasing Activity Bucks Office Trends in Metro Phoenix

SkySong, The ASU Scottsdale Innovation Center is seeing the benefits of its innovative approach with a flurry of new leasing activity. 

SkySong remains one of the Valley’s most dynamic and vibrant business hubs by consistently evolving to meet the needs of today’s businesses, startups, and professionals.

The headliner in the latest flurry of activity is a new lease by Yelp for a space in SkySong 4. SkySong has been pursuing Yelp as a tenant for several years and the project team is very pleased to finally have them as a partner. It’s also a sign that larger employers are returning to in-office work environments. 

Additionally, three other companies have renewed or expanded their presence in the project:

• Medicare Benefits Direct (dba Get Me Healthcare) is expanding from 3,714 square feet in SkySong 3 to 8,648 square feet in the building.
• Integrity Express Logistics (3,118 square feet) and Solugenix (2,093 square feet) are tenants in SkySong 1 and 3, respectively. 

With its unique combination of cutting-edge workspaces, walkable dining and entertainment options, premier hospitality, and residential opportunities, SkySong continues to thrive as a top-tier leasing option for companies and entrepreneurs seeking an innovative, flexible environment.

“SkySong provides an environment where innovation and lifestyle meet,” said Sharon Harper, Chairman and CEO of Plaza Companies, the master developer of SkySong. “The project continues to evolve and adapt, making it a one-stop destination for businesses looking to grow and succeed while also offering their teams an exceptional work-life balance.”

SkySong’s success lies in its mixed-use work-live-play model, offering tenants more than just office space. Businesses leasing at SkySong benefit from access to a range of on-site amenities that include walkable restaurants, retail spaces, hospitality services, and housing options – all designed to foster collaboration, creativity, and convenience. 

Tenants can enjoy a balance of professional workspaces and vibrant leisure spaces, with access to both indoor and outdoor gathering areas for meetings, networking, and social events.

The SkySong complex is also well-known for its close partnership with Arizona State University (ASU), giving tenants access to world-class academic resources, research initiatives, and collaboration opportunities with one of the nation’s leading public research universities. It was first imagined by ASU President Michael Crow and the City of Scottsdale in 2004.

This unique connection strengthens the innovative ecosystem that defines SkySong, fostering opportunities for businesses to partner with ASU researchers, hire talented graduates, and engage in collaborative projects that push the boundaries of innovation.

Currently, SkySong boasts an occupancy rate of 88 percent, a testament to its ability to continually attract new businesses while retaining long-standing tenants. The addition of residential units and hospitality options has bolstered SkySong’s appeal as a fully integrated community that caters to businesses, residents, and visitors alike.

As leasing demand continues to rise, SkySong remains committed to adapting its offerings to meet the needs of an evolving business landscape. From flexible lease terms to innovative office layouts, SkySong is designed to support the future of work, providing tenants with the space and resources they need to thrive in a fast-changing world.

Plaza Companies is the master developer of SkySong, in partnership with University Realty, the City of Scottsdale and Holualoa Companies. Plaza Companies provides development, financing, construction oversight, leasing renewals and expansions and property management at SkySong. The Coppola Cheney Group of Lee & Associates is SkySong’s leasing broker.

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 the co-location of Arizona State University’s strategic global partners. 
• Create a unique regional economic and social asset.

Companies located at SkySong have the opportunity to partner with ASU, which has more than 145,000 students studying across four metropolitan Phoenix campuses, in Lake Havasu City, Los Angeles and Washington D.C. and online. ASU is one of the largest public universities in the nation, with the majority of its students attending its campus in Tempe, Arizona, less than three miles from SkySong. 

In addition to locating its own innovative research units at the center, 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 SkySong.com or follow developments on Facebook.  

SkySong, The ASU Scottsdale Innovation Center has hosted extensive public art and community events, and now it’s putting the work of kids center-stage in a new exhibit. 

Kids in Focus proudly presents the second in a series of exhibits celebrating youth creativity on display in the SkySong 3 building from now through July 26.  

Kids in Focus is a nonprofit organization providing local youth from underserved communities the chance to see themselves and their world in a new light by equipping them with cameras, pairing them with mentors, and encouraging them to express themselves through photography. 

Since 2012, Kids in Focus has been putting cameras in kids’ hands with the guidance and encouragement of adult mentors – many who are avid and professional photographers. Following its training program, these skilled mentors use photography to connect, engage, and encourage life-long creativity. The organization collaborates with local schools, nonprofit community partners, and foster care programs to engage Valley youth through its signature After School Mentoring Program, workshops, and the Grads in Focus Program.

The current SkySong exhibit, which features works by more than 30 young photographers, is the second Kids in Focus exhibit to be featured on site. 

Sharon Harper, Chairman and CEO of Plaza Companies, the master developer of SkySong, said supporting the community and spreading the message and impact of Kids in Focus is important to the project team.

“SkySong has always had a focus on being a tremendous community asset and a true focal point for the Scottsdale arts community,” Harper said. “This partnership with Kids in Focus is another example of how the arts can enhance the overall atmosphere and vision for the project. We are proud to support the local community with our new partnership with Kids in Focus. Their focus on youth empowerment through mentorship and art is a perfect fit.” 

Plaza Companies is the master developer of SkySong, in partnership with University Realty, the City of Scottsdale and Holualoa Companies. 

Ann Alger Piraino, Exhibits Manager with Kids in Focus, welcomed the opportunity to display the children’s artwork in such a unique setting at SkySong. 

“We are grateful for the opportunity to partner with the SkySong team to bring this exhibition to life,” she said. “The artwork created by these young people helps them develop life skills and express their creativity, and it is gratifying to show this exhibition in a place with a focus on health and healing.” 

Past and current venues for Kids in Focus events include the Creighton University Health Sciences Building, the Phoenix Zoo, Sky Harbor Airport, Arizona Science Center, Children’s Museum of Phoenix, Scottsdale Artists’ School, Western Spirit Museum, and Scottsdale Fashion Square Mall. 

For more information on Kids in Focus, visit www.kidsinfocus.org or their social media feeds: 

Instagram: @kidsinfocus 

LinkedIn: Kids in Focus 

Facebook: Kids in Focus 

Numerous Firms Expand Space Within SkySongâ€s Four Buildings; Innovation & Flexibility Within Project Key to Supporting Growth

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The SkySong campus, located on the southeast corner of Scottsdale Road & McDowell Road in Scottsdale, has begun receiving daily shuttle service from 11am-2pm via Ollie the Trolley to Old Town. The trolley picks up tenants under the campus Shade Structure. Tenants can take advantage of the great restaurants in the downtown space and browse art galleries and shops without worrying about parking.

“We want to continue to make SkySong not just an economic development project and an innovation center, but a critical part of the community as well,” said Sharon Harper, President & CEO of Plaza Companies, the master developer of the project. “This is a great opportunity for our tenants to feel a sense of community and to also invite people from throughout Scottsdale to see what SkySong is becoming.”

Two new key tech additions are coming to the newest building in SkySong, The ASU Scottsdale Innovation Center.

A trailblazing information technology solutions firm and an online technology and business library provider are going to call SkySong 3 their new home.

Solugenix Corporation is the longest-serving IT consulting firm in the nation, doing pioneering work since 1969. Amongst other things, Solugenix developed the first cell phone billing system and developed the first GPS systems for in-car navigation. Solugenix is relocating from the Scottsdale Airpark and will begin its lease at SkySong in April. Today, Solugenix helps worldâ€s leading financial services companies and healthcare providers with mission-critical software and services. Solugenix chose Scottsdale to build its two new centers of excellence: Data Sciences and DevOps. SkySongâ€s unique tech-savvy ecosystem and proximity to ASU were the big reasons for that choice.

Safari Books Online provides members with access to more than 29,000 digital books, videos and conference videos in topics including programming, IT networking, project management, graphic design, business strategy and more. Originally started in 2001, Safari is a wholly owned subsidiary of Oâ€Reilly Media, Inc., and brokers extensive partnerships with leading publishers like Pearson Education and McGraw Hill Education to deliver unrivaled industry content to individuals and businesses across the globe.

Read the entire article at this link.

Two new key tech additions are coming to the newest building in SkySong, The ASU Scottsdale Innovation Center.

A trailblazing information technology solutions firm and an online technology and business library provider are going to call SkySong 3 their new home.

Solugenix Corporation is the longest-serving IT consulting firm in the nation, doing pioneering work since 1969. Amongst other things, Solugenix developed the first cell phone billing system and developed the first GPS systems for in-car navigation. Solugenix is relocating from the Scottsdale Airpark and will begin its lease at SkySong in April. Today, Solugenix helps worldâ€s leading financial services companies and healthcare providers with mission-critical software and services. Solugenix chose Scottsdale to build its two new centers of excellence: Data Sciences and DevOps. SkySongâ€s unique tech-savvy ecosystem and proximity to ASU were the big reasons for that choice.

Safari Books Online provides members with access to more than 29,000 digital books, videos and conference videos in topics including programming, IT networking, project management, graphic design, business strategy and more. Originally started in 2001, Safari is a wholly owned subsidiary of Oâ€Reilly Media, Inc., and brokers extensive partnerships with leading publishers like Pearson Education and McGraw Hill Education to deliver unrivaled industry content to individuals and businesses across the globe.

Read the entire article at this link.

The company is relocating from another location on N. Scottsdale Rd. and will move to its expanded, 2,500 square feet location at SkySong in December.

Pyxl designs and develops custom websites, web applications and mobile apps that balance technology and design, while driving and monetizing web traffic. Additionally, Pyxlâ€s communication services include customized inbound marketing strategy development and integrated digital marketing and public relations campaigns. With offices in Boulder, Colo., Knoxville, Tenn. and https://www.viagrasansordonnancefr.com/viagra-en-ligne/ Scottsdale, Ariz., Pyxl has gained a wide range of clients across the industries of healthcare, technology, education and retail. In August, Pyxl was named to the Inc. 5000 list of Americaâ€s fastest-growing companies for the second year in a row. The list is published annually by Inc. Magazine and ranks Americaâ€s fastest growing, privately-owned companies.

Read the entire article at this link.

The company, adhesive.co, is relocating from east Indian School Road and will begin its five-year lease at SkySong on January 1, 2015. The layout of the space will be in line with the online ad companyâ€s philosophy of a creative and collaborative environment.

The performance display online advertising company—where they like to say “the geeks are in charge”—helps drive incremental business for clients and is regarded as an industry leader with a fresh approach to online advertising. The adhesive team turns pages of code into advertising solutions for advertisers and publishers.

With the leasing agreement, adhesive.coâ€s presence at SkySong will help enhance its brand and a perfect fit for its collaborative environment.

“The innovative environment at SkySong will become even more dynamic with the addition of adhesive,” said Sharon Harper, President & CEO of Plaza Companies, the developer of the project. “They are online ad innovators and model collaborators who represent the best in entrepreneurial striving. We are thrilled they decided to come to SkySong, where their unique view of the world will be welcomed with open arms.”

Chad Little, one of the adhesive.co founders alongside Patrick Schwind, said: “Serial entrepreneurialism needs the right place to grow and prosper. Fortunately for Patrick and I, and our clients, we have found that place—SkySong. Itâ€s the perfect fit for our approach, for who we are and for what adhesive is all about. We canâ€t wait to move in and meet our new neighbors and potential collaborators.”

Read the entire article at this link.