Soon to be Arizona’s largest resort, VAI is less than a year from completion on 60 acres in Glendale, led by a vertically integrated general contractor/owner with two generations of heavy civil construction experience. Billed as the state’s first multi-experiential vacation destination, the million-dollar hotel complex centers on a $50 million, 360-degree concert stage, where entertainers will perform for guests in tiered seats, VIP skybox or even hotel room balconies.
The resort, touted as a “fun and amazing experience,” will include four six- or eight-story towers; More than 1,100 luxury rooms, suites and villas up to 5,000 square feet; five acres of temperature-controlled water; and nearly a mile of palm-fringed beaches with patent white sand that never gets above 90 degrees Fahrenheit; multiple pools, including two on the roof; 12 restaurants; 10 bars and lounges; 80,000 square feet of approximately 40 commercial destinations; and a tethered hot air balloon. In addition, the resort will feature the first indoor Mattel Adventure Park™, where two roller coasters will enter and leave the building, along with a Hot Wheels go-kart ride, a Barbie Beach House and other attractions.
The $1 million effort centers on the $50 million 360-degree stage.
Image courtesy of VAI Global Development
Another Las Vegas-level attraction is the 52,000-square-meter Konos Island, said to be the largest man-made party island in the United States. It was inspired by beach destinations like Ibiza, Mykonos, and Tulum, and is anchored by a 16-person aerial bar built 130 feet above ancient alfalfa fields.
Dickinson, ND-based Fisher Industries, with offices in Tempe, AZ, is building the mega hotel/resort/entertainment venue with Orlando-based architect of record Baker & Barrios.
“Our mission is to redefine the luxury hospitality experience while incorporating the excitement of live entertainment,” says Grant Fisher, who is overseeing the project as president of VAI Global Development.
The resort’s design philosophy prioritizes the creation of captivating experiences.
Image courtesy of VAI Global Development
Tunnels and a tent stage
The construction team has connected the entire campus with 2,000 feet of concrete tunnels, allowing daily staff and facilities management staff to fulfill their responsibilities to guests without interfering with their experience and providing entertainers free access to the hotel and the amphitheater. concert stage.
Depending on their location beneath buildings and other campus services, the 9-foot-tall tunnels were constructed in two ways, says Tommy Fisher, Grant’s father and president of Fisher Industries/Construction. With the first method, the crew craned into precast concrete boxes that they then wheelbarrowed into place; in other areas, they placed the remaining tunnels.
“VAI Resort combines guest experience with architectural placemaking.”
—Ryan McGinn, Executive Director of Projects, VAI Global Development
This underground system connects to 30,000 square feet of entertainment staging areas, including a 2,000-seat VIP room for ticket holders in the first 12 rows and a private elevator that will elevate performers to the 360-degree steel structure amphitheater, explains Howard Weiss. Senior Vice President of Entertainment and Sponsorships for VAI Resort, who is leading the construction of the 11,000-capacity venue.
Their tasks include coordinating the sophisticated electrical, acoustic and state-of-the-art audio components. “Everything our electrical and acoustic teams have done here is very integrated,” he explains. “We are giving concerts in hotel rooms that can be your seat for the shows as well as your accommodation for the night. So our guests can stay inside their rooms having food and drinks while enjoying the concerts” .
Roller coasters will take guests outside and then back into the building.
Image courtesy of VAI Global Development
A changing vision
To ensure that VAI was a transformative project, the company immediately changed the vision after acquiring it two years ago from the original developer; this company was planning a more traditional water-themed amusement park that would focus on youth and families.
“You have a number of places around the country that offer a water park destination, but I felt that there was no five-star destination property that could entertain families, but was geared a little bit more toward the 21-year-old crowd and more,” says Tommy Fisher. His father, Gene, founded the Fisher Sand & Gravel Co. in rural North Dakota in 1952, specializing in portable crushing operations. Both Tommy and Grant are residents of Phoenix area.
“VAI will incorporate the happiness of a child and that of an adult, so that parents and grandparents can also ride roller coasters with their children,” says Fisher. “Even in the heat of summer, everyone can look forward to the ride in the indoor air conditioning.”
“The synergies and efficiencies realized on site will continue long after the construction workers are gone.”
—Grant Fisher, President of VAI Global Development
“Our design philosophy prioritizes creating captivating experiences for our guests,” says Ryan McGinn, executive director of projects at VAI Global Development. “VAI Resort combines guest experience with architectural placemaking. Our goal is to transport guests to a tropical oasis where they can seamlessly transition between relaxation, family fun and adrenaline-charged adventures with our attractions and new attractions.
The company says operating as an owner-contractor has made the process seamless.
“These two roles are often extremely distinct – the monetary aspects and the design and structural aspects – and this can often lead to misconceptions and problems,” explains Grant Fisher. “We’re not just an owner who comes in with the dollars; we come in with background and experience.”
“When workers see that the owner is in the trenches with them, it shows that we’re all in this together, and that builds momentum,” adds Tommy Fisher.
Additionally, the company continues as owner/manager after the project is completed in early 2025. “The synergies and efficiencies realized on site will continue long after the construction workers are gone. It’s the long haul for us,” says Grant Fisher.
“We’re not in this to develop it as cheaply as we can or as fast as we can to sell it at the end of the day. This is really a legacy project from the Fisher family that launches our hospitality brand,” he adds.
The 11,000-capacity venue features a 360-degree stage also visible from hotel rooms and balconies.
Image courtesy of VAI Global Development
Benefit from vertical integration
Tommy Fisher explains that the company’s long civil engineering experience has reduced design and construction challenges at VAI.
Three Loop 101 exits serve VAI, State Farm Stadium, home of the Arizona Cardinals, and the growing Westgate shopping, dining, entertainment and hotel campus, so traffic control required multiple entrances and departures to accommodate guests during the night and the event. well There are also conveniently located parking garages, lots and a pedestrian bridge spanning 95th Avenue.
“A lot of people have had experiences going to a stadium or arena for their dream concert and being stuck in traffic and having a lot of anxiety,” says Tommy Fisher. “So what we’ve done is provide multiple places to get in and out effortlessly.”
“We brought two lifetimes of experience to this project.”
—Tommy Fisher, President, Fisher Industries/Construction
Howard Weiss, VAI Resort’s senior vice president of entertainment and sponsorships, who is coordinating the construction of the 11,000-seat venue, includes its sophisticated electrical, acoustic and audio components. From the 95th Avenue entrance, a 100-foot promenade will take ticket holders to their seats; For entertainers, a 30,000 square meter area under the stage will include preparation rooms and a private elevator to access the stage.
“Our carpenters who would normally be building bridges are building our towers,” explains Tommy Fisher. “Many have helped us grow the company and build some of the largest federal projects we’ve worked on, and that’s why we brought them here.”
The labor shortage, which remains the main problem in the country’s construction industry, has not been a challenge. “We’re in the toughest labor market of the decade right now, but with Fisher Industries as our general contractor and our key subcontractor partners, we’ve been able to avoid this problem,” says McGinn. At most, around 1,200 workers will be on site.
He adds that recruitment has been improving following the peak of COVID-19; the longest delivery time now is the electrical equipment. “We rely on our strong partnerships to meet any challenges that may arise,” explains McGinn.
Finding trucks and scheduling deliveries has also challenged many projects. But Fisher has 160 trucks regularly delivering asphalt products from Phoenix. The company also has a manufacturing facility with conveyors, crushers and other machinery. Additionally, the complex’s structural steel is being produced by an in-house facility in Coolidge, about 40 minutes south of VAI.
The project team will place about 250,000 cubic yards of concrete, with a capacity of 4,000 psi to over 6,000 psi.
Image courtesy of VAI Global Development
Because of the company’s vertical structure, it has avoided some of the common construction hurdles caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Arizona has become a leading center for chip manufacturing in the country, with megaprojects like those of Intel and Taiwan Semiconductor highlighting many of the area’s resources, and in particular, concrete. But generally, the pours have been spotty, Grant Fisher notes, adding that to ensure availability, the team placed one of its batch plants on site to produce some of the eco-concrete that has been used “That’s been a big help,” he says.
Ultimately, the crew will place about 250,000 cubic yards of concrete, rated from 4,000 psi to more than 6,000 psi for the buildings, pools and the 2,000-foot-long tunnel system with 12-by-14 precast concrete boxes embedded feet and tunnels connecting the buildings.
“With these tunnels, our overnight guests are not affected by day-to-day operations,” says Grant, “and entertainers can enter the stage without difficulty from the roar of the crowd.”
