Jun 30 2006
What's New in Downtown Phoenix?The Greater Phoenix Convention and Visitors Bureau reminds us that downtown Phoenix used to be a dusty destination where rolling tumbleweeds made their way along the streets. But the city is ever-evolving. Visitors will notice a big change when they visit Downtown Phoenix’s 90-block core, called Copper Square. There’s a flurry of development and growth, as well as a newfound energy. This is evident when I take my walking club's 10K tour of central Phoenix. We have had to side-step the light rail construction and make our way around the new Convention Center. But soon, all the improvements will be unveiled.
About $2.3 billion is being spent to bring new life into the vibrant downtown area - referred to by locals as Copper Square. The new Phase One West Building at the expanding Phoenix Convention Center opens in July, 2006. Demolition and construction for Phase Two of the expansion is underway, and the facility will triple in size to 900,000 sq. ft. The $600 million expansion will be complete in 2009 and will elevate Phoenix to top-tier status in the convention market.
More Hotel Rooms Added
Among the many impressive, large-scale projects that indicate sustained growth for the downtown area is the new, city-owned, 1,000-room Sheraton Phoenix Downtown hotel. Construction has begun on the 31-story project, located one block from the convention center. The Sheraton will open in the Fall of 2008, and an upscale, 175-room W hotel will open in 2009, just steps away from US Airways Center (formerly America West Arena), and across the street from the expanding convention center.
The future completion of the two hotels and the convention center expansion brings the total cost for these downtown development projects to more than $1 billion. The two new hotels will complement current downtown options that include the Wyndham Phoenix (532 rooms) and Hyatt Regency Phoenix (712 rooms).
Phoenix Biomedical Campus
Biomedical activity is booming at the Phoenix Biomedical Campus at Copper Square. Arizona State University and the University of Arizona are developing the Arizona Biomedical Collaborative, which will focus on collaborative biomedical research. The University of Arizona is establishing the College of Medicine - Phoenix in three restored historic high school buildings. The school is expected to train physicians who will work throughout Arizona, and to create better research opportunities for students and faculty. Finally, the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGRI) is a growing, state-of-the-art bioscience research facility that opened in January 2005. The six-story facility provides administrative and research laboratory space for about 300 employees, including the TGRI and the International Genomics Consortium.
Light Rail
The METRO light rail is currently under construction and will begin service in December 2008. The system will provide visitors with convenient access from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport to Copper Square, including the Phoenix Convention Center, as well as many other Downtown Phoenix venues. The METRO light rail will also make Copper Square more accessible to outlying cities such as Tempe and Mesa.
The Downtown Scene
The first Friday evening of each month brings added energy to Downtown Phoenix as more than two dozen art galleries, as well as working artists studios, bars and coffee houses, open their doors to art enthusiasts of all types. Otherwise known as the First Fridays Art Walks, this program has helped cultivate the downtown cultural scene, giving it more of an “open-house” atmosphere. Both casual and serious art collectors have the opportunity to explore many downtown galleries and get to know many of Phoenix’s emerging artists.
The Bud Light Paseo, a key feature of the $67 million expansion and renovation recently completed on US Airways Center, includes state-of-the-art audio and video technology in order to perform impressive light shows. It serves as a premier venue for outdoor meetings.
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Information Courtesy: Greater Phoenix Convention and Visitor's Bureau
