What a couple of weeks in the Southwest.

There were groundbreakings, grand openings and much more news: fairly standard activity in the bustling three-state region of Arizona, Nevada and New Mexico.

At ENR Southwest, we finished the next print edition, replete with two feature stories on the University of Arizona and Dignity Health Cancer Center and Arizona State University College Avenue Commons. We also have a profile on Specialty Contractor of the Year, Helix Electric and the results from the Specialty Contractor survey. Of course the regular departments are also there: City Scoop on Reno, people happenings and information from our sister organization, Dodge.

But in the midst of closing the print edition, we had to skip the Southwest Roundup last week and were unable to report on some items we otherwise would have devoted time in covering. Without further ado, here is the Southwest Roundup for this week.
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Tesla Motors has announced that Nevada is going to be the site for their $4 to $5 billion battery factory, also known as a ‘gigafactory.’ It is going to be the biggest and most technologically advanced battery factory in the state, which Nevada officials are estimating will bring in more than $100 billion dollars over the next two decades.
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In Arizona Kitchell and Orcutt Wilson Partnership has recently completed construction on a 171,000-square foot expansion to the Dignity Regional Medical Center. The new  expansion will bring 96 more beds which will raise the hospital’s bed count to 339, while also adding to the comprehensive services which the hospital will be able to offer.

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The $125 million tower construction project began in Dec. 2011 and will add more than 200 new jobs to the medical center. It will also include an expanded emergency department with additional patient rooms, four trauma bays, two helipads and an expanded radiology department; expanded surgical services with six new operating rooms; and a new and expanded intensive care unit with 32 beds.
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The Tohono O'odham Gaming Enterprise has broken ground on their new upcoming resort and casino in Glendale, Ariz. TOGE is progressing the project after more than 12 straight rulings by courts and federal agencies in their favor and have also recently approved an agreement with the city of Glendale. Still looming over the project are U.S. Sens. Jeff Flake and John McCain who have promised to take action when Congress reconvenes after the election. The initial phase of construction is planned to include a gaming component, as well as a range facilities including five restaurants, as well as meeting and multi-purpose space.
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McCarthy Building Companies Inc. and Sundt Construction Inc. has been selected as general contractor for a $120 million expansion to the Ocotillo Water Reclamation Facility in Chandler, Ariz. According to a press release, $100 million will be spent on new construction and $20 million on modernizing the existing structure. The facility use membrane bioreactor technology (MBR), a combination of activated sludge treatment together with a separation of the biological sludge by micro- or ultrafiltration membranes.