University of Arizona Grand Challenges Research Building ^{Commercial & Industrial}

Sturgeon Electric Company, Inc. (Sturgeon Electric) served as a subcontractor and preferred vendor for construction firm Kitchell and the University of Arizona on the seven-story Grand Challenges Research Building. This state-of-the-art facility supports interdisciplinary collaboration, fostering innovation in line with the university’s strategic vision.

Sturgeon Electric’s involvement began early, contributing to design development, constructability reviews, site auditing, and cost validation. Our crews supported procurement planning, mitigated COVID-19 workforce impacts, and ensured overall price and engineering alignment from a contractor’s perspective.

The project involved relocating an existing building transformer, rerouting emergency feeders, and providing temporary generator backup, all while ensuring the existing building remained operational. A new generator was installed to support both current loads and the emergency power needs of the new facility. Sturgeon Electric also installed the building’s ground ring, site lighting, and main trunk lines, incorporating a 480/208 busway system. The lighting design featured both high-end decorative fixtures and specialized, adjustable controls to support various research environments.

Additionally, our crews provided a complete branch system, cable tray routing, and advanced AV/voice-data infrastructure, alongside a university-specific fire alarm system. The lightning protection system was designed to ensure both functionality and aesthetic harmony with the surrounding architecture. Sturgeon Electric also led the design and installation of a custom laboratory ceiling equipment racking system, working closely with Kitchell, the project architects, and a specialized manufacturing team from New York. The modular system was fabricated off-site and precisely assembled on location to meet the lab’s specific needs.

Nestled between an open-air parking structure to the south and an adjacent research building to the north — with access to a specialized lid for transporting massive telescope mirrors just behind it — the project presented unique logistical and structural challenges. Sturgeon Electric’s expertise was key to overcoming these complexities, including the relocation of existing utilities from the building’s footprint. The Grand Challenges Research Building was a finalist for Arizona Real Estate (AZRE) Magazine’s 2025 RED Awards.

Read more: https://azbigmedia.com/real-estate/here-are-the-finalists-for-the-2025-red-awards/