October 2008
Omni Tucson National Resort – Seaver Franks teamed with Tim Zubrowski Interiors and E Group, Landscape Architects, to design a $70 million renovation to the Omni Tucson National Resort. A $20 million Phase One has been completed. Phase Two is expected to be complete in January, 2010. Lloyd Construction Company, Inc. of Tucson is the general contractor. The Seaver Franks team began by providing programming and master planning, and then designed both renovations to the existing resort and additions which will expand the resorts guest rooms and public facilities. These include the renovation of 103 guest rooms, and the addition of 186 guest rooms to replace guest rooms which are being demolished. All public and back of house areas are also being renovated, and a 7,500 square foot ballroom is being added.
Million Air – Construction is nearing completion on the new $3.9 million Million Air office building/hangar facility north of Tucson International Airport, designed by Seaver Franks. The new 38,000 facility includes a two-story office and a \hangar that accommodates up to 5 executive planes. The office space includes an airport terminal on the first floor for passengers and pilots. Lang Wyatt Construction of Tucson is the general contractor. Million Air is scheduled to be fully operational by the end of this year.
Tower Theaters – Seaver Franks Architects had the privilege of designing the first movie theaters located in Marana, Arizona, a northern suburb of Tucson. Construction has been completed on the new $11.8 million first-run theatre, which features full stadium seating. It features digital projectors in two theaters, and the other ten theaters are digital projection ready. The contemporary design was built using tilt-up concrete construction, and features state-of-the-art projection and sound equipment. Division II Construction of Tucson was the general contractor.
Sion Power – Construction was recently completed on a new 69,000 square foot tenant improvement for Sion Power, a Tucson, Arizona based research & development for lithium batteries. Seaver Franks designed their former space, and was called on three years later to design this larger facility. The new space is near the Tucson International Airport and features offices, a clean room, and dry rooms, which are required for conducting research on lithium which is highly explosive when exposed to moisture. The general contractor was Barker Morrissey of Tucson.
Beacon Group – The recently completed addition to the Beacon Foundation building in Tucson, Arizona, designed by Seaver Franks Architects, provides new facilities for important community services. The Beacon Foundation is a charitable foundation serving the physically and mentally challenged community and providing them with employment as well as a variety of other services. The 34,000 square foot addition more than doubles the Foundation’s existing space, and consolidates their operations which previously operated in two separate locations. The ground floor features a light manufacturing facility for the assembly of small parts by the Foundation’s clients. The second floor is composed of office space and training rooms used to teach clients a variety of life skills. A portion of the existing facility was also be renovated. Diversified Design & Construction of Tucson was the general contractor.
Seaver Franks Design Studio Expansion – Seaver Franks is building a second structure adjacent to its existing office building in Tucson, Arizona to accommodate its residential design studio and related design/building tenants. Construction is expected to be complete in the summer of 2009.
Business Park of the Desert - Seaver Franks was selected by a Southern California developer to design a new industrial park near the Tucson, Arizona International Airport. The Business Park of the Desert is a 31-acre site which has been master planned for four phases of office/industrial condominiums. When all four phases are built out, total square footage will be over 370,000. It will be built using tilt-up concrete construction, which is underway. Chestnut Construction of Tucson is the general contractor.
KD Engineering – Seaver Franks is designing a three-building, 50,000 square foot office complex for KD Engineering, a Tucson, Arizona based mining engineering company. The new facility will be located in Marana, Arizona, a northern suburb of Tucson. KD Engineering is expected to occupy one 15,000 square foot building. The other two buildings will either be built as shells or will be built to suit. The total construction cost is expected to be $10 million, with construction beginning in the summer of 2008 and taking six to eight months. The contemporary design is influenced by LEED standards, though the complex will not be LEED certified. KD Engineering is striving to build a positive working environment for their employees and will include features such as a recreation room with table tennis and workout equipment.
Rancho Nuevo - This custom house was programmed and designed as a desert retreat. Integrated into the granite hillside, the vertical structure emerges as part of the surrounding terrain and precisely relates to the adjacent rock outcroppings as an extension of the architecture. The home is organized around an entry court which provides privacy to the transparent living, dining core. A balance of natural light helps connect the southern porch/patio to the northern pool/spa patio and adjacent outdoor kitchen area. Casual living areas are central to two master suites and a detached guest casita. Each bedroom suite has a private patio that functions as a transition reconnecting the resident back to the natural desert environment. Special emphasis was placed on the extension of air conditioned space to exterior living areas. The residence is appointed with many features that reinforce and encourage outdoor living. Basic building materials such as corrugated metal, large dimensional timber, heavy troweled plaster, steel and glass come together to define this 5,300 square foot structure.
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