The next important step in the creation of a 120-acre biotech research hub in Phoenix will be taken later this week with a vote by the Phoenix City Council.
For upwards of a decade, plans have been in the works for the building of the hub, which will belong to the Rochester, Minnesota-based Mayo Clinic.
The big non-profit organization, founded in 1864, has long had a presence in both Phoenix and Scottsdale. Opening the Mayo Clinic Hospital in 1987 at 5777 E. Mayo Boulevard, Mayo has also wanted to see the development of a hub that would spur research while also attracting biotech companies to set up operations in Arizona’s largest city.
What is being called the Discovery Oasis Paradise Ridge health corridor and biotech research hub will go up on the north end of Phoenix on land just to the south of Loop 101, between 56th Street and 64th Street.
Earlier this month, members of the Phoenix Planning Commission gave their unanimous approval to the project, sending it on to the city council.
It is expected that the Discovery Oasis hub will ultimately see the construction of some 3.3 million square feet of facilities that will include an outpatient clinic, patient services, medical equipment manufacturing, and research and development space.
Early plans for the project indicate a decided emphasis on sustainability practices, with the installation of a drip irrigation system designed to minimize water waste, dual glazed windows, and LED lighting throughout the campus.
According to city documents, Phoenix in the last two decades has emerged as a major player in the bioscience and biotech world, with more than $4 billion in new and expanded facilities comprising upwards of 6 million square feet.
By Garry Boulard
