School districts are confronting a complex challenge: how to modernize aging campuses while preserving the history and memories that generations of families hold dear.��This challenge��isn’t��just a construction assignment —��it’s��a responsibility. And the path to success begins with one essential step: listening.��

Community Listening: The Foundation of Every Great��School Campus Renovation��

Many��contractors��can renovate a school, but when construction and design teams��seek input from the community��about what makes��a��school unique, those qualities can be reflected in the��renovated school campus.��McCarthy��Building Companies’��Education team��members��regularly��participate��in parent forums, neighborhood workshops, teacher feedback��sessions��and design charrettes to uncover ideas that may not otherwise��come to the surface��when a school renovation is being planned.��Listening efforts often reveal traditions,��symbols��or architectural elements that help anchor a campus’��reimagined��identity.��

At Galveston Elementary School in Arizona’s Chandler Unified School District — opened in 1963 — these conversations shaped the direction of the school’s $35 million transformation. Community members shared memories of outdoor gathering spaces that once served as the heart of campus life. Their insights guided the design of new shade structures, flexible courtyards and shared areas that blend nostalgia with modern learning environments.��

“It doesn’t matter how sophisticated the design plans are — if the campus doesn’t reflect the heart of the community, something is missing,”��said��Matt Lyons,��business unit leader with McCarthy’s Education team in Phoenix. “The best��campus��renovations��happen when we infuse the school’s heritage directly into the new build.”��

Shifting Campus��Learning Environments��to Meet��Modern Education��Needs��

Today’s students pursue a broader range of interests than ever — spanning arts, STEM, CTE, athletics��and more. As a result, modernizing and��remodeling K-12 campuses��increasingly includes��adding or expanding��multipurpose spaces, flexible classrooms and outdoor teaching areas designed for multidisciplinary learning.��

The new Galveston Elementary campus��transitioned its traditional learning space to include��arts-focused classrooms, multipurpose collaboration zones, outdoor learning��spaces��and flexible��environments that support both small-group instruction and larger activities. Teachers and administrators emphasized��the need for��spaces that make hands-on learning creative,��social��and academically connected.��

Two major Phoenix-based��renovations now underway��— Madison Rose Lane Elementary School and Metro Tech High School��— are incorporating similar principles.��

As one of the oldest schools in Madison’s 135-year-old district, Madison Rose Lane carries significant historic value. Early listening sessions revealed a desire to honor the school’s legacy through preserved architectural��elements,��pathway updates reflecting original circulation patterns and spaces that highlight its longstanding arts identity.��

The remodel will also deliver expanded arts classrooms, enhanced safety features, outdoor learning��areas��and flexible indoor environments that can adapt as student needs��evolve.��

“Working with McCarthy has been a collaborative and inspiring experience. Through the listening sessions, their team actively engaged with us, gathering ideas and finding solutions,” said��Andre��Reyes, Madison Rose Lane��Principal.��“They showed a real commitment to understanding what makes Madison Rose Lane special, and in doing so, they are building a school that our students, teachers and community truly deserve. We always say that Madison Rose Lane CARES, and McCarthy has exemplified that same spirit of care and partnership throughout this process.”  ��

Metro Tech High School — originally opened as West High in 1949 and repurposed as a vocational school in 1985 — is also undergoing��major��modernization. Today, Metro Tech is one of Phoenix Union’s most dynamic CTE-focused campuses, yet its facilities require��significant��updates��to��match��modern technological capabilities and��modern career training��program��needs.��

Metro Tech High School Principal Shawna Wright said, “This renovation shifts��what’s��possible for our students in real, tangible ways.��We’re��not just updating walls and equipment.��We’re��building collaborative spaces that will give students the skills they need to exceed in jobs we have not even imagined yet.”��

Local businesses,��neighbors,��faculty��and students��were engaged to��provide��DLR Group and McCarthy��input on��Metro Tech’s��campus remodel.��As a result, the��campus is��adding new collaborative labs��with��space for��future program��growth; technology infrastructure��updates; and��improving��the campus��flow��to��enhance the student experience.��Adding to the��project’s��complexity is the sequencing of��eight��construction��phases on the active campus, where safety is a priority, while accommodating the successful renovation and relocation of��the ballfields, gymnasium,��utilities��and parking lot.����

Hands-On Learning: Bringing Students��into��the��Construction��Process��

Another��value��central to McCarthy’s Education team is engaging students through construction-themed learning opportunities��and activities to help make the renovation process more fun for students and teachers being displaced during the project, and to show students how construction enhances our communities and can be a rewarding career.����

Construction Clubs,��which McCarthy��hosts in��elementary and middle schools across the��Southwest��for��over��a decade,��allow students to experience��working in the��construction trades firsthand.��Students��engage in activities involving��carpentry, plumbing, electrical,��virtual modeling��and other tasks, applying skills from classes like math, science, technology, art and others, while being��guided by��McCarthy team members and others on the project team to work on an aspect of construction that’s happening on the project at their school.��For example, during��construction��at��Metro Tech,��students��in the school’s construction and electrical programs are��being given these��opportunities as their campus transforms around them��

At Galveston Elementary,��the��McCarthy��team engaged students a little differently by��creating��an “Elf on the Shelf” construction challenge��that��involved daily��math and reading clues tied to the��campus��renovation. The activity generated schoolwide excitement and gave students a sense of��excitement and ownership��in the transformation happening around them.��

Programs like these��deepen students’ connection to their evolving��campus��and��simultaneously��introduces��them��to potential��career pathways��while seeing the��way what��they are learning in school has application in the future.��

Natalie Carroll is Business Development Manager for McCarthy’s K-12 Education Team based in Phoenix.��

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By Lindsey Coulter��

PHOENIX — Arizona State University (ASU) recently announced plans for an estimated 200,000-square-foot building in Phoenix that will serve as ASU Health’s new headquarters. The multistory School of Medicine and Advanced Medical Engineering facility, designed by CO Architects in collaboration with DFDG Architecture and being constructed by McCarthy Building Companies, will join the University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix and several biotech research companies at the downtown Phoenix Bioscience Core.��

“This endeavor is more than a building, and this is much more than a medical school,” said ASU President Michael Crow, in a statement. “This will be the headquarters of ASU Health, a new hub of innovation, teaching and learning to enhance health outcomes for the people of Arizona.”��

The project is one of several within the city’s Bioscience Core��designed by CO Architects. The firm is responsible for two of the precinct’s early buildings for University of Arizona’s health sciences and biomedical research programs. “We’re leveraging our vast experience in Arizona, and in Phoenix specifically, for the new ASU Health facility,” said Jenna Knudsen, FAIA, Managing Principal of CO Architects, in a statement.��

DFDG Architecture also recently collaborated on the ASU Health Futures Building and the adjacent Mayo Clinic Integrated Education & Research Building to integrate medical research and educational training in North Phoenix. “That momentum will carry over to this project, the latest addition to greater Phoenix’s health-sciences construction boom,” said DFDG President Darrin Orndorff, AIA, in a statement.��

In addition to housing ASU’s first-ever Phoenix medical school offering MD degrees and hosting select existing programs from the Health Solutions and Nursing schools, the building will include space for ASU’s clinical affiliate,��. The new facility will also accommodate two new programs, expanding ASU Health’s multi-discipline curricula. The School of Medicine and Advanced Medical Engineering will teach future physicians how to improve patient care by blending medicine, engineering, technology and humanities. ASU Health’s new School of Technology for Public Health will focus on the integration of digital technology and data-driven decisions, aiming to improve local public health.��

Facility features are projected to include virtual anatomy and clinical-skills laboratories, exam rooms, classrooms, study spaces, administrative offices, and a simulation center with mock operating and emergency rooms. Further, the new ASU Health headquarters will offer community-facing programs so that members of the public can interface with technology-enabled information on health-related issues such as immunizations.����

“ASU’s forward-thinking approach to preparing future medical and health service professionals and advancing community health education is plainly demonstrated by this progressive project,” said Carlos Diaz, Vice President of Operations at McCarthy Building Companies, in a statement. “We are eager to bring together our national expertise in simulation lab construction and our local team’s demonstrated competence on complex worksites to collaborate with these exceptional design partners and support ASU’s vision.”��

The ASU Health School of Medicine and Advanced Medical Engineering building is designed to help address workforce shortages while improving public health outcomes in Phoenix and beyond. Preliminary sitework is set to begin this fall, with construction starting in early 2026. ASU Health will begin accepting student applications later this year and plans to commence classes in the new building in fall 2028.��

The project team also includes Meyer Borgman Johnson (structural engineering), Spectrum Engineers (MEP engineering), Dibble Engineers (civil engineering), TrueForm Landscape Architecture Studio (landscape architecture), Bowman Fire & Life Safety (safety consultant), WSP USA Buildings (sustainability consultant) and NV5 (AV/IT/security consultant).��

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LOS ANGELES — Construction is officially underway on the $72 million Cesar Chavez Administration and Workforce Building at Los Angeles City College (LACC), a major project that will anchor the center of campus and advance the Los Angeles Community College District’s (LACCD) sustainability goals. Designed by Steinberg Hart, the four-story, 67,230-square-foot facility will combine historic architectural character with contemporary instructional and sustainable design elements.

When complete in early 2027, the new building will serve as a prominent gateway to the LACC campus, providing sweeping views of the Hollywood Hills. The building will house instructional rooms, IT help areas, campus safety operations, a multipurpose room, and faculty and student resource spaces. A fourth-floor outdoor terrace will provide a gathering space with panoramic views, but natural light will be prominent feature inside as well thanks to fritted curtainwall facades on the east and west lobbies that help to maintain temperature and reduce glare while maintaining privacy and visual connection to the surrounding campus.

Jacobs will serve as the project manager, with McCarthy Building Companies serving as general contractor. McCarthy Building Companies recently broke ground on the project — continuing a longstanding relationship with LACCD.

“We are excited to bring the Cesar Chavez Administration & Workforce Building to Los Angeles City College as it will offer a variety of much needed resources while also serving as an anchor to welcome students and staff,” said Michael Kim, senior vice president at McCarthy Building Companies, in a statement. “This is our tenth project with the LACCD, and it is such a pleasure to create robust educational facilities that produce significant learning outcomes.”

Sustainability is central to the project’s design, which aligns with LACCD’s goal of achieving net zero by 2040. The facility will include an 80 kW AC solar array system and a battery energy storage system (BESS) capable of providing up to eight hours of backup power. The surrounding central quad will feature native vegetation, light-colored paving, and a Solar Reflection Index (SRI) “cool” roof to mitigate the urban heat island effect. All sustainable elements are being designed to meet LEED Gold certification standards.

Founded in 1929, LACC is the oldest of the Los Angeles Community Colleges and has played a pivotal role in shaping higher education across the region, including serving as the original home of what became the University of California, Los Angeles. Today, LACC continues to serve one of Los Angeles’ most diverse communities, including East Hollywood, Hollywood, Silver Lake and Echo Park. The Cesar Chavez Administration and Workforce Building was funded by Measure CC.

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By Denzil D’Sa and Jack Carter

Across California, universities are racing to meet the evolving demands of today’s students — none more urgent than the need for on-campus housing. Once considered “commuter colleges”, many public institutions are now experiencing a seismic shift as more students seek a residential university experience. This change is reshaping campus master plans and challenging school leaders to rethink how student housing is delivered — faster, smarter and with less disruption.

For example, California’s CSU (California State University) and UC (University of California) systems are facing a mounting student housing crisis fueled by rising enrollment, limited on-campus housing, and unaffordable rental markets surrounding many campuses. Combined, these pressures have left tens of thousands of students without stable housing options. UC campuses report a shortfall of more than 20,000 beds, while CSU estimates its gap to be over 14,000. This has left many students on lengthy waitlists, commuting extreme distances, or facing housing insecurity that directly impacts their ability to succeed.

Responding to the Housing Crisis with Innovation

Enter Progressive Design-Build (PDB), a collaborative, solutions-forward delivery method that’s helping universities break ground faster and open doors sooner, all while maintaining quality and cost control. This design-build model has reshaped what’s possible, allowing companies like McCarthy, a long-standing partner in California’s higher education landscape, to deliver more than 5,000 student beds in the last four years.

From Concept to Completion in Record Time

At San Francisco State University (SFSU), the clock was ticking. The campus urgently needed student housing to support its growing population and improve the student experience. Thanks to the Progressive Design-Build (PDB) delivery method, project stakeholders were engaged from the very first design workshop through to ribbon-cutting — enabling the construction and delivery of 700 beds in just 17 months. That pace makes it the fastest-delivered housing project in the California State University (CSU) system to date.

Early alignment with the university, designers — EHDD Architecture, and trade partners allowed the team to evaluate options, control costs and iterate in real time — rather than waiting for full design completion before pricing and procurement. This approach built deep trust between the university and the design-build team, a critical element for making decisions at speed.

Speed was supported not just by process, but by purpose. The team prioritized minimizing disruption to ongoing campus life, particularly since construction occurred during active school sessions. Deliveries and site activities were coordinated around academic calendars to reduce noise, traffic and student impact — especially during finals and move-in weeks.

Student-centered thinking also influenced material selection and scheduling. The design and preconstruction teams worked closely with SFSU to choose materials that supported the campus vision while navigating the constraints of an occupied site. “Through the early partnership with SFSU, we were able to release long lead items — like electrical equipment — early to ensure timely delivery,” shared McCarthy Building Companies Senior Project Engineer Lana Jarnutowski.

Operations personnel were brought in early to contribute to design decisions and foster strong collaboration with the broader team. According to Jarnutowski, that trust laid the groundwork for seamless field execution. “Together, we designed and built a place where 700 people can call home. That is something we should all be proud of.”

The result? A state-of-the-art student housing community delivered not just on time, but ahead of expectations. Today, SFSU has a signature facility that reflects its evolving identity, enhances student success, and supports a vibrant living-learning environment.

The success of this project demonstrates the power of early collaboration and flexible delivery models — an approach that’s now being used to accelerate other projects across California.

Scaling the Model Across California

Following the success at SFSU, McCarthy’s approach is scaling across multiple campuses. At UC Riverside, a similar progressive design-build model is being combined with prefabricated Cold Form Steel (CFS) panels to deliver 1,500 student beds in just 23 months. This evolving delivery method — Progressive Design-Build + Prefab = Accelerated Results — is now being applied at UC Davis, where the team is building on lessons learned to enhance speed, quality and efficiency on its next major student housing project.

This kind of “rolling expertise” is critical for higher education systems managing multiple projects across different locations. Rather than starting from scratch each time, institutional leaders can rely on proven delivery partners to bring transferable knowledge, repeatable systems and a tested playbook for success.

The Shift from Commuter to Campus Community

Behind all these housing projects lies a deeper story. Once known as commuter schools, institutions like SFSU and UC Riverside are now embracing a residential campus identity, providing students with immersive, community-oriented environments. This is not just about beds; it’s about creating spaces where students can thrive, learn and grow.

Amenities such as study lounges, wellness spaces, community kitchens, and outdoor courtyards are no longer “nice to have” — they are expectations. And because design-build teams are engaged early, these features can be designed, priced, and integrated efficiently into the plan without creating late-stage cost overruns or schedule delays.

Driven by student needs and supported by delivery innovation, this shift is shaping a new era of campus development. Institutions are turning complexity into clarity and crisis into opportunity. They’re reimagining the college experience not as a logistical challenge, but as a chance to create spaces that reflect their mission and meet the real needs of their students.

As funding opportunities like California’s $2 billion Higher Education Student Housing Grant Program continue to drive new projects forward, the importance of smart, student-centered delivery models will only grow.

Denzil D’Sa is Preconstruction Director and Jack Carter is Vice President, Project Executive with

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By Lindsey Coulter��

At a Glance: Metro Tech High School Renovation ��

• Scope and Timeline: Multi-phased modernization project including 150,000+ square feet of renovations and a new 22,500-square-foot competition gymnasium, set for completion before the 2027–2028 school year.��
• Design and Construction Team: Led by DLR Group (design) and McCarthy Building Companies Inc. (construction), with input from students, district leaders, and local industry experts.��
• Career and Technical Education Focus: Modernized facilities for 20 CTE programs, including nursing, cosmetology, floral design, and childcare, designed to support real-world training and future career readiness.��
• Campus Enhancements: New sports fields, theater space, administrative offices, crosswalks, paved walkways, and infrastructure upgrades including cooling towers and underground mechanical systems.��
• Student Involvement: Active learning opportunities during construction through PXU’s ACE Mentorship and CTE programs, with tours and hands-on experiences integrated into the renovation process.��

PHOENIX — Construction is underway at Metro Tech High School as the Phoenix Union High School District (PXU) embarks on a comprehensive, multi-phased renovation and expansion aimed at redefining career and technical education (CTE) in Arizona.��

Designed by DLR Group and built by McCarthy Building Companies Inc., the transformation will enhance all 20 of Metro Tech’s CTE programs with cutting-edge facilities, new construction and more than 150,000 square feet of renovations. A new 22,500-square-foot competition gymnasium, upgraded sports fields, and a complete reimagining of the campus layout are central components of the overhaul, scheduled for completion before the 2027-2028 school year.��

“We are extremely excited for the future of Metro Tech High School,” said PXU Superintendent Thea Andrade in a statement. “With the overwhelming public support behind our bond funding this project, we will offer the next generation of PXU students the best possible educational experience.”��

DLR Group’s campus design emphasizes student experience and accessibility, with a focus on pedestrian-friendly improvements such as new crosswalks and paved pathways. The design also incorporates adaptive reuse principles, preserving historical elements of the original West High School campus, which dates back to 1947.��

“This renovation shifts what’s possible for our students in real, tangible ways,” said Metro Tech Principal Shawna Wright in a statement. “We’re not just updating walls and equipment; we’re building collaborative spaces that will give students the skills they need to exceed in jobs we have not even imagined yet.”��

The campus-wide modernization includes targeted updates to key CTE program spaces, such as floral design, nursing assisting, cosmetology and childcare. These updated environments will be designed to meet program-specific needs and technological requirements. A new campus entrance will also welcome students and visitors with upgraded administrative offices and room for future expansion.��

Additional features of the project include a new white box theater for school and community events, new baseball, soccer, and softball fields, and enhanced infrastructure including additional parking, expanded bus stalls, new cooling towers and a full overhaul of the underground mechanical piping system.��

“This project is about more than construction – it’s about building once-in-a-lifetime learning opportunities for students on this campus,” said McCarthy Project Director Tyler Shupe in a statement. “We’re proud to create a campus that reflects the ambition and skill of Metro Tech’s students, bringing them alongside us through the process. Phoenix Union’s incredible commitment to training and developing the next generation of skilled trade workers, medical professionals and other vital careers is clear from the transformative vision of this project.”��

As part of that vision, students from Metro Tech and other PXU schools will be actively engaged in the construction process. McCarthy will provide real-world learning experiences through site tours and mentorship opportunities aligned with Metro Tech’s ACE (Architecture, Construction, Engineering) Mentorship program and CTE coursework in construction and electrical trades.��

“Metro Tech High School has been a cornerstone of the Phoenix community for years and we are excited to work with PXU and MT leaders to develop a design that will expand educational opportunities for students and show the community the amazing programs they provide,” said David Schmidt, principal and architect with DLR Group, in a statement.��

Serving more than 1,800 students on a 35-acre campus, Metro Tech is one of 23 schools in PXU, one of the largest high school districts in the U.S. The renovation continues a century-long collaboration between PXU and DLR Group.��

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TEMPE, Ariz. — Construction recently concluded on Arizona State University’s (ASU) University Gateway Building (UGB), a $78 million, five-story mixed-use facility with an architecturally complex facade. The structure unifies retail, education, and art spaces under one sustainably designed roof.��

“The University Gateway Building marks a significant milestone for Arizona State University, linking the west side of the Tempe campus with the vibrant energy of Mill Avenue,” said Tim Smith, ASU Facilities Development and Management vice president in a statement. “With its distinctive angular façade, we have a visual showpiece that inspires ideas and innovation.”��

The 128,000-square-foot structure was the remaining element to a two-part project completed in tandem by the design-build team of St. Louis, Mo.-based McCarthy Building Companies, Inc. and Phoenix-based DFDG Architects. The first part of the project, a six-story parking structure, was completed last year.��

Inside the UGB��

Classrooms within the UGB are home to the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts where students study music, music therapy, photography, e-sports, architecture and animation programs. Designed with acoustics in mind, the building’s third floor features an extensive sound isolation system from Phoenix-based TP Acoustics Inc., to manage both internal and external noise. The firm helped develop the ideal settings for instrument practice rooms, group rehearsal spaces, recording studios and a music therapy clinic for the college’s music program.

An e-sport gaming lounge, large computer labs, 3D printing technology and state-of-the-art dark rooms all have homes within the other three academic floors and are neighbored by faculty offices and flex study areas for nearby academic support.����

By grouping similar occupants, the project��team maximized the use of special elements, i.e. sound-proofed areas for various sound needs or dark spaces designed to be adjacent to photography study areas, according to Jonathan Kimble, project manager at McCarthy Building Companies. Kimble spoke to the value of developing a mixed-use space and strategically separating or conjoining amenities. ��

“Sometimes that separation can be a hard line between floors or slowly transitioning from office space on one end of the building to a photo lab on the other end by mixing in study spaces, classrooms and lounge areas to help soften the transition”��

However, the building isn’t all academically focused. To maximize land use for various stakeholder groups, the building offers leasable restaurant and retail spaces on the ground level. A pedestrian walkway along the building’s facade creates an inviting environment for community members and complementing the building’s innovative��high-performance thermal, air and vapor envelope. ��

The exposed facades are designed to minimize direct solar gain with various shading strategies. For instance, the western facade features a unitized skin system with a deeply faceted geometric design, providing coverage from sunlight to help reduce energy consumption.��

Designing this angular facade brought a variety of challenges beyond the building’s shape alone, such as the street’s building’s bustling, arterial Mill Avenue location and the overall process of creating a showcase design that serves as the gateway to ASU’s campus.��

“To overcome these challenges, we worked closely with our design team as well as our trade partner, KT-Fabrication, to create a superior skin system that would not only be a statement piece for ASU but could also be prefabricated and shipped to the site for installation to help mitigate disruption to traffic,” said Kimble. “We built a mockup of the skin panels at KT-Fabrication’s yard where we were able to perform testing and review with ASU to make any necessary adjustments prior to installing the panels on site.”��

Parking Solutions��

The UGB wraps around the $42 million Mill Avenue parking structure, completed in 2023. The structure, the first phase of the Mill Avenue project by design-build team McCarthy Building Companies Inc. and DFDG Architects, added 1,205 parking spaces to the area. ��

ASU’s dedication to sustainability remains evident in the 429,000-square-foot parking structure, which features EV charging stations on the first and third floors. The six-story building has a rooftop photovoltaic array for electrical power generation, while below the structure underground thermal energy storage supports campus cooling. Secure bike parking is offered, with changing rooms and showers also included to support greener commutes. ����

Commissioning of the two-part project entailed sourcing chilled-water air handlers and pumps, a dedicated outdoor air system, electric water heaters, circulation pumps, hydronic heat exchangers and exhaust fans. Advanced lighting, including control systems for dimming and motion sensing, were also critical to the environmentally sustainable elements of the project. The combined parking structure and University Gateway Building are projected to meet LEED Silver and Parksmart Gold certifications. ��

Key construction trade partners also included Sun Valley Masonry in Phoenix, and Tempe, Ariz.-based companies Arizona Elevator Solutions and RH Dupper Landscaping. ��

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�ʱ᰿��������—Designer SmithGroup and general contractor McCarthy Building Companies have reached a construction milestone on the $185 million Interdisciplinary Science and Technology Building 12 (ISTB12) at Arizona State University’s (ASU) Polytechnic campus, located in the eastern Phoenix neighborhood of Mesa. As the Polytechnic campus continues to develop as part of the Innovation Research District adjacent to the main campus, personnel from the school, along with professionals from McCarthy and SmithGroup, signed the ceremonial final beam, which was then hoisted into place atop the structure.��

When completed, the 173,194-square-foot ISTB12 will be a home for innovation and instruction in such fields as robotics, semiconductor research, energy and cyber manufacturing, and operations research as part and parcel of the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering’s new School of Manufacturing Systems and Networks. ISTB12 will be home to office spaces, meeting areas, collaboration space and various laboratories.����

“The ISTB12 facility will propel the advancement of the most sophisticated technologies to benefit our students, faculty and researchers,” Tim Smith, ASU’s facilities development and management interim vice president, said at the topping-out ceremony. “The facility will allow our students to gain hands-on experience for jobs of tomorrow that will feed the advanced manufacturing taking place in the East Valley and metro Phoenix area.”��

McCarthy’s team has worked on the concrete, plumbing and steel components as part of the project construction docket. This work utilized prefabricated materials including multi-trade corridor racks that were assembled offsite before being installed at the jobsite. McCarthy has also taken advantage of prefabricated backer panels to enclose the structure, as well as a unique Unistrut system cast into the slab itself. This helped to keep the project on schedule despite some ongoing supply chain issues.����

“Our collaborative project team, which includes four summer interns preparing to be next-generation construction professionals, has been working hard to build ASU’s next state-of-the-art facility that will serve as the home of industry-leading research and education of professionals in one of the world’s most critical sectors,” Carlos Diaz, project director for McCarthy Building Companies, said of his company’s work on ISTB12. “The topping out signifies our team safely achieving a significant milestone and the project entering its next phase.”����

Sustainability elements at ISTB12 include rainwater collection to reuse for site landscaping in dry Arizona as well as solar-ready infrastructure. ASU is aiming for LEED Gold certification.����

Working with McCarthy are such subcontractors as E&K of Phoenix, KT Fabrication, Comfort Systems USA, Wilson Electric, Western Building Group, Climatec, MGC Millwork and Pete King. SmithGroup’s design partners include Wood Patel Associates and PK Associates.��

“We are committed to executing ASU’s vision for this project’s successful delivery,” said Diaz. “We look forward to a strong completion in late summer 2025.”����

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YUMA, Ariz.—McCarthy Building Companies has successfully delivered the $17.5-million Matador Activity Center at Arizona Western College. The project, which topped out last spring, entails 45,000 square feet of space that is home to an esports arena, multimedia center, lecture hall, conference rooms and gaming area.

The school’s KAWC radio station and television studios are also housed under the same roof; people can observe the student broadcasters at work via a transparent wall. In addition, the Matador Activity Center also houses Andale’s Pantry, a food pantry and clothing donation effort for disadvantaged students.

“This building is for the students. It was planned and designed with students in mind,” AWC President Dr. Daniel Corr said of the project. “We hope it’s a place where they can connect, engage and thrive in their experience at Arizona Western College.”

McCarthy’s collaborators on the Matador Center included architect EMC2 as well as subcontractors Yuma Valley Contractors, Delta Diversified Enterprises, Pacific Steel Inc., Progressive Roofing and Haxton Masonry.

“The McCarthy team is proud to help make the college’s vision of an enhanced student engagement experience a reality with the completion of the Matador Activity Center,” Antonya Williams, business unit leader for the Education Group in the Southwest Region at McCarthy Building Companies, said of the AWC construction. “The project was not only completed on time and on budget, it has already received award recognition from [Arizona Public Service] for its energy savings and sustainability practices.

“We’re incredibly honored to have been part of bringing this new asset to the Yuma community.”

The Arizona Public Service (APS) Clean Energy Project Achievement award recognized the Matador Center for an estimated annual energy savings of 53,000 kWh, a carbon offset equivalent to 550 planted trees, reduced generation equal to 635,000 pounds of carbon eliminated and the equivalent of 161,000 gallons of water saved. Because of these efforts, the APS granted AWC a $9,300 rebate.

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APACHE JUNCTION, Ariz.—Design-build partners McCarthy Building Companies and Architekton recently celebrated the topping out of the expansion of Central Arizona College’s Allied Health and Skilled Trades buildings. The $40 million, 51,620-square-foot expansion at the college’s Superstition Mountain Campus aims to increase local education in training tomorrow’s healthcare workers and skilled trades workers.

The Allied Health building will be home to classrooms and laboratory space to train students in such areas as massage therapy, phlebotomy, radiology, sonography, nursing assistance and various other career fields. Simulation centers will also prepare students for real-world healthcare situations they may face in the field. The simulation centers will offer “high-fidelity” mannequins, patient simulators and other technology. Local residents will be able to use the Allied Health building’s spa facility for treatment provided by student-learners under faculty supervision.

Meanwhile, the Skilled Trades building will offer students hands-on methods to learn about such careers as electrical, plumbing, ceramics, mechanical and arts programming. Simulations will help students apply their tradecraft in situations that will mimic what they might encounter when they graduate.

As part of its work for Central Arizona College, McCarthy also was tasked with renovating the existing C building to include a computer lab, E-Sports Lab, virtual reality (VR) lab as well as a suite of new faculty offices. McCarthy worked to expand the C building while keeping in place the facility’s existing student lounge, café and student organization space. On the outside, the contractor also added a new canopy to increase outdoor seating for large events.

“We are excited to celebrate this milestone and look forward to the completion of the new Skilled Trades and Allied Health Buildings,” Dr. Jackie Elliott, president of CAC, said of the ongoing work. “CAC will continue to provide a world-class learner experience by expanding educational opportunities for the residents of Apache Junction, Pinal County, and the state of Arizona through existing and new programs that will be housed in these facilities.”

“Topping out is a significant milestone for construction projects, and this project is especially meaningful since it will serve career and technical education students interested in pursuing careers in the trades and healthcare sector,” added Andrea Ramos, McCarthy’s project director. “We are one step closer to providing two new buildings where students, who represent our future workforce, will learn under the direct supervision of the college’s talented staff.”

Added Daniel Childers, senior associate architect with Architekton: “We extend our gratitude to Central Arizona College and our dedicated McCarthy contractor team for achieving this noteworthy milestone of topping out. This brings us one step closer to unveiling these exceptional trades, arts and healthcare facilities to the students and faculty of CAC, and the surrounding communities of Apache Junction.

“It has been the unwavering commitment and collaborative efforts of this incredible team that has brought us to this instrumental and memorable juncture. Thank you for your enthusiasm and expertise as we continue this journey towards opening these facilities to a brighter future.”

The Skilled Trades and Allied Health facilities are planned to be ready for the fall of 2024, with coursework scheduled to commence there in the spring of 2025.

Project subcontractors include RN Electric, S&H Steel, Stone Cold Masonry and Pete King.

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CHANDLER, Ariz.—Architect Orcutt | Winslow and general contractor McCarthy Building Companies have reached the topping-out stage at Galveston Elementary School, part of the Chandler Unified School District. Personnel from the district and construction team were on hand for this goalpost moment, where students, staff and invited guests signed a ceremonial beam, which was then hoisted into place atop the phase I construction of the $32-million, 81,000-square-foot expansion.

Phase I entails a 53,000-square-foot classroom building, 21,000-square-foot gymnasium facility and a 7,000-square-foot administration building. The classroom building entails 31 classrooms, each of which will include large-format TVs, as well as grade-appropriate book collections in lieu of a centralized library or media center, and an amphitheater. The building will also be home to a cafeteria—with doors that can roll up during optimal weather for indoor-outdoor dining—and a multipurpose room that can be utilized for various public events.

The buildout commenced in September, and is being constructed on top of Galveston Elementary’s former playground. The new buildings will have card reader access as an added security measure.

The second phase of work, due to commence this fall, entails tearing down the original school building from 1963 and fashioning new playgrounds and athletic fields. Phase II is due for completion in the spring of 2025. The school will then be able to educate 750 students, up from the current complement of around 400 in grades K-6.

At the topping-out ceremony, CUSD Superintendent Frank Narducci called Galveston Elementary a “very special community,” and said the newer buildings will make it even stronger.

“For families and the staff, this school has been an anchor in the neighborhood and city for decades, so this rebuild marks a huge milestone in the school’s history,” Narducci said. “This rebuild will be state-of-the-art and feature learning spaces that allow students and staff to work and learn collaboratively and independently.”

“There has been much to celebrate at Galveston Elementary this year,” added Andrea Ramos, McCarthy Southwest Education Group project director for the construction work. “Not only did the school recently receive an ‘A Grade’ rating, but the campus renovation project marked the major construction milestone of topping out with students, faculty and staff leaving their handprints and names on the final beam, which will forever be part of the Galveston Elementary campus.”

“It has been an absolute honor to work on the Reimagined Galveston Elementary School design project,” said Saravanan Bala, Orcutt | Winslow managing partner. “The District’s vision [shaped] this innovative, community-service focused replacement school.”

Orcutt | Winslow and McCarthy both operate from local offices in Phoenix.

“We couldn’t be prouder to be helping transform the campus into a 21st century learning facility and positively impacting students’ lives for decades to come,” said Ramos.

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