Scottsdale has evolved far beyond its “West’s Most Western Town” image to become a regional center for innovation, anchored by SkySong, The ASU Scottsdale Innovation Center. A partnership between the Arizona State University Foundation and the City of Scottsdale, this 42-acre mixed-use development hosts more than 50 companies—everything from global enterprises like Oracle to solo-founded startups.
City estimates show SkySong tenants support roughly 9,350 jobs with combined annual wages of about $584.4 million. Those businesses generate approximately $1.3 billion in yearly economic activity for Scottsdale, which extrapolates to an anticipated economic impact of at least $58.2 billion over the next 30 years.
Sharon Harper, chairman and CEO of Plaza Companies—the commercial real estate firm behind SkySong—says the project demonstrates how a city, a university and private industry can collaborate to benefit an entire region. The close partnership with ASU amplifies that effect.
SkySong grew from Arizona State University President Michael M. Crow’s vision for a “New American University” that serves its community through research, technology, and workforce development. To realize that vision, ASU needed a research and innovation hub that could attract high-tech firms—space it could not accommodate on its Tempe campus. Scottsdale provided an ideal location when the ASU Foundation acquired the former Los Arcos Mall site and transformed it into SkySong.
© Caesars Republic Scottsdale
Named for the distinctive shade structure at its center, SkySong now comprises six office buildings, two parking garages, multiple restaurants, a hotel (Element Scottsdale at SkySong) and a 325-unit apartment complex. Its tenant roster includes industry names such as Canon, Workiva, Keyence, Banner Health, Ticketmaster, Atom, Ecolab and Dell. More recently, defense contractor Raytheon signed a lease to bring 150 professional jobs to Scottsdale, with about 95 percent of those positions filled by new hires.
Relocating firms benefit from a tighter relationship with ASU and direct access to a large talent pool of nearly 98,000 students. ASU President Crow describes SkySong as more than a research park: it’s a gathering place where people from across the region and the world convene to exchange ideas and build new ventures.
OneOrigin illustrates that dynamic. The AI-focused company moved to SkySong in 2022 with about 90 employees, quickly partnered with ASU to apply AI in educational settings, and within two years expanded to 150 employees while opening additional offices in the Middle East and India.
Goldfield Ghost Town © Iprintezis | Dreamstime.com
For Scottsdale, SkySong’s local impact is substantial. The 2021 SkySong Economic Impact Summary Report projects that, alongside thousands of high-paying jobs, the development will contribute about $362.3 million to the city’s economy over the next 30 years. The surrounding neighborhood has already felt change: nearly 900 new residential units were added, home values in the area rose faster than many parts of Scottsdale and Maricopa County, and new restaurants and hotels have opened to serve both residents and visitors. The SpringHill Suites by Marriott Scottsdale, for example, highlights its proximity to SkySong.
Tourism remains a major pillar of Scottsdale’s economy and has continued to thrive alongside SkySong’s growth. Several large hotels opened recently, including the 265-room Caesars Republic Scottsdale, while established resorts such as Omni Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Montelucia, The Scottsdale Resort & Spa, The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa and Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Gainey Ranch completed renovations in 2024.
Those hotel investments benefit SkySong by giving business visitors a range of modern accommodations near the innovation center. Business travel brings direct spending to the local economy and can convert visiting professionals into future leisure guests, supporting tourism. Meanwhile, the innovative work at SkySong raises ASU’s profile and strengthens ties between academia and industry—a mutually beneficial cycle for the university, the city and local employers.
SCENIC DRIVES
Scottsdale also serves as a convenient starting point for some of Arizona’s most scenic drives. About 30 minutes from SkySong, the Apache Trail begins in Apache Junction and passes attractions like Goldfield Ghost Town, a reconstructed 1890s mining town, and Lost Dutchman State Park. The route threads along Canyon Lake, through the tiny community of Tortilla Flat and over Fish Creek Hill to Roosevelt Dam; from there you can continue to Globe on SR 188 or return to enjoy the drive again. For dramatic red-rock scenery, head north to the Red Rock Scenic Byway (SR 179) off I-17. The 7.5-mile route showcases Sedona’s striking formations and offers options for a short drive or a full day of hiking, visiting Bell Rock and Cathedral Rock, and browsing galleries in Oak Creek Village. Follow SR 179 into Sedona to explore Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village and Main Street (SR 89A), then continue north on SR 89A through Oak Creek Canyon for breathtaking switchback views of forest and red rocks below.