TEMPE, AZ-Liberty Property Trust has begun dirt work on the 100-acre, mixed-use Liberty Center at Rio Salado, with the City of Tempe's blessings. City council's site plan approval was the catalyst for Liberty to begin the project, which upon buildout, could hold approximately 1 million square feet of industrial, flex and retail space, as well as a hotel.

In 2012, the city selected Liberty Property Trust to develop the site, which is at Priest Road and Rio Salado Parkway. The location is less than five miles from the Liberty Property's fully leased 1.2 million square foot business park Liberty Cotton Center. All buildings developed by Liberty Property Trust at the park will be designed to meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification with a focus on energy efficiency.

“Rising demand for larger, contiguous spaces is the catalyst for our quick start,” says John DiVall, senior vice president and city manager for Liberty's Arizona region. “We have submitted plans for our first office building to the City and anticipate starting development of both that building and the main entrance to the park in the fourth quarter. Interest from current and prospective tenants is growing quickly, so we're eager to begin to bring the vision of this park to life.”