Arizona-based architect Krause has announced that it was chosen as the winner of the C40 Cities Reinventing Cities Initiative to develop Phoenix's Resource Innovation Campus (RIC) in the US.
The initiative is a global competition that challenges multidisciplinary teams to transform underused urban sites into models of sustainability and resilience.
The campus will serve as a platform for companies to advance innovative manufacturing technologies that turn waste into valuable resources.
Krause's design for the campus aims to transform Arizona's economy for the next century.
Together with its collaborators, Krause will focus on creating a fully carbon-positive building and achieving Living Building Challenge certification, which is claimed to be the world’s most stringent sustainability standard.
The campus' design will support Phoenix's goal of 50% waste diversion by 2030 and zero waste by 2050, becoming a key driver for Arizona's future. It will serve as an incubator for public-private partnerships and promote sustainable business growth in the region.
The 20-acre RIC site is situated south of Phoenix's central business district, at the 27th Avenue Transfer Station campus in the Estrella Village community.
Estrella Village has been a manufacturing hub for over five decades, and the RIC presents a chance for job creation and economic revitalisation.
Following the first selection phase of the Reinventing Cities competition, only three finalist teams were shortlisted.
In addition to the winning team of Krause/JLG Architects/Studio MLA, the shortlist included PhiX: Venue Projects and Richärd Kennedy Architects, as well as Bending The Lines: DLR Group, and J2 Engineering and Environmental Design.
The Reinventing Cities competition is sponsored by C40 Cities, a network of mayors from almost 100 cities globally, and supported by leading climate change activists and environmental groups.
Further details on the development and technology partnerships for the RIC will be announced in early 2025, with construction expected to be completed by 2028.
Krause partner and senior designer Michael Krause said: "Our design approach to Phoenix's Resource Innovation Campus begins where the typical approach ends. Rather than seeking incremental improvements, we went beyond checklist-minded sustainability certifications in an effort to truly give back to the community and our environment through design.
"RIC's design will provide companies the opportunity to develop and research new technologies, ultimately creating a circular economy that benefits local business and residential communities alike."
