Tempe tech campus has first tenant, despite opening date 2 years away

PHOENIX — A technology campus in Tempe has its first tenant — even though it is not expected to open for two more years.

BD Peripheral Intervention — which develops and manufactures endovascular devices for people with peripheral artery disease, end-stage kidney disease and cancer — announced Wednesday that it is moving into a building at I.D.E.A. Tempe.

Thank you to @AZMayorMitchell and @dougducey for joining us for our groundbreaking ceremony on the I.D.E.A. campus in Tempe today. Learn more: https://t.co/xFvMwMODep pic.twitter.com/6YWf3xudtN

— BD (@BDandCo) October 3, 2018

“The new building is the next step in where we’re headed,” said BD Worldwide president Steve Williamson.

“Over the last six years, we’ve grown in a big way. Our business has grown, our products have grown, our company has grown.”

When the site is completed, I.D.E.A. Tempe will cover almost 18 acres. It was expected to include five office buildings, a hotel, restaurants, structured parking and additional art and classroom related space.

And it’s right next to the Tempe Center for the Arts.

Breaking ground today for I.D.E.A. Tempe Campus’ first tenant, BD Peripheral Intervention. Their new home will have access to the state of the art TCA and Tempe Town Lake. Bringing in around 100 plus jobs in the next year, we can’t wait to grow together in our Tempe community! pic.twitter.com/tIhMzEjNhi

— Mayor Mark Mitchell (@AZMayorMitchell) October 3, 2018

“We wanted to create a place where the brightest people in science could be … at the same place and exchange innovative and exciting ideas,” said Tempe Mayor Mark Mitchell.

I.D.E.A. Tempe is focusing on attracting new technology companies to Tempe. For years, the vacant site was used as an informal garbage dump.

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