Months before its heavily amenitized, experiential office project, Arbor, is slated for completion, Phoenix-based developer George Oliver is already amassing pre-lease commitments. Dominated by tech and logistics entities, Arbor’s lease cadence is notable within a metro Phoenix office landscape that is slowly coming back to life following the COVID-19 pandemic.
Located in downtown Tempe at 310 S. Mill Ave., on the southwest corner of Mill Avenue and Third Street, Arbor will transform the landmark Hayden Station mixed-use property into a one-of-a-kind, “Urban Organic” office and retail destination spanning five buildings and 124,190 square feet.
The development is entering the final stages of its $18 million renovation, expected to be completed by the end of this year. Already, more than 32,000 square feet of the Arbor is pre-leased, representing more than 25 percent of the project.
“People are the heart of everything we do in Tempe,” said Tempe Mayor Corey Woods. “The success Arbor is seeing shows that there is a demand for mixed-use projects that are focused on the health and happiness of the people who work there. Arbor is a model for other projects to follow.”
Pre-leases signed to date at Arbor include:
- Worldwide Express, a leading logistics company established in 1992 and now managing the delivery of over 120,000 packages daily, leasing 18,585 square feet (representing the entire fifth floor) in the 51 West 3rd Street building.
- Trainual, a local software company specializing in employee training, knowledge management and onboarding, leasing 9,050 square feet in the 401 S. Mill Avenue building.
- Radius AI, a technology-based firm specializing in the implementation of artificial intelligence through vision-capturing devices in the consumer retail industry, leasing 4,573 square feet in the 350 S. Mill Avenue building.
“Following the merger of Worldwide Express and GlobalTranz, we wanted to find a local space that would support our rapidly growing business and the strategic integration of our brands into one office,” Worldwide Express Vice President of Commercial Services Mike Vitale. “Arbor’s collaborative workspaces, rich amenities and spirited lifestyle perfectly align with our corporate culture and represent the flexible, hybrid work environment of the future. We also value Arbor’s centralized location, which features a deep, motivated and energetic talent pool drawing from forward-thinking, innovative companies and graduates from Arizona State University.”
“With the future of work changing and Trainual making the switch to remote-first, it was important to find an office that met our local team’s needs but could also accommodate remote employees flying in,” said Trainual Founder and CEO Chris Ronzio. “We put together a list of must-haves, and Arbor checked all the boxes for us – a central location close to the airport, lots of space to collaborate both in-person and virtually, and a great place to bring the team together for special events.”
Arbor’s “Urban Organic” design theme places an emphasis on vegetation and a natural material palette to create an indoor/outdoor, five-star, resort-style environment. This begins with a centrally located amenity lounge named The Denizen, offering concierge services, coffee shop-style seating, virtual darts and a test kitchen and cocktail bar.
Adjacent to the lounge is Arbor’s wellness center, featuring meditation pods and a fitness center with day lockers, Peloton bikes, cardio equipment, weights, saunas, towel service and spa-inspired showers. Other key interior amenities include a 50-person training room, mother’s room and secure bike lockers.
Outdoor amenities at Arbor include a large garden-style conference room, cabanas for smaller breakout sessions, a rooftop networking patio, yoga garden, dog patio and game areas – all enhanced with hanging daybeds, fireplaces and lounge-style seating.
Arbor provides immediate access to the Mill Avenue/Third Street Light Rail stop and Tempe’s new Streetcar, and is just blocks from Arizona State University’s main campus. It is less than one mile to the Loop 202 and minutes from Sky Harbor International Airport and downtown Phoenix. It is also walkable to over 50 restaurants and bars within a 10-block radius, and more than 28,880 multifamily units within a three-mile radius.
The design and architecture for Arbor is led by George Oliver Design. The project general contractor is Layton Construction. Arcadia Management Group will serve as Arbor’s on-site property manager.
Renovations at Arbor began earlier this year and are scheduled to complete by the end of 2022. To discuss leasing at Arbor, contact Scott Boardman and Dave Carder of Cushman and Wakefield.
