PHOENIX (October 7, 2010) – The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA), the U.S. Department of Justice Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and commercial builder/developer Ryan Companies US, Inc. broke ground today on a 210,202 square foot facility that Phoenix-based FBI personnel will call home for the next 20 years.

The Ryan Companies-built and owned facility on the southeast corner of 7th Street and Deer Valley Road will replace the FBI's four current Phoenix locations, allowing expansion and consolidation of agency operations and personnel through a 20-year lease agreement.

"This single, central location is expected to produce increased space, cost savings, and organizational efficiencies," says FBI Special Agent in Charge Nathan T. Gray, Phoenix Division.

City of Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon remarked on the project's economic impact. "The GSA has demonstrated a commitment to creating local jobs by selecting builder/developer Ryan Companies and keeping the long-established federal jobs here in our community. The added benefit of a "green" building just goes to show that Phoenix continues to be a great investment."

"The FBI demands specialized infrastructure, customized to meet its uniquely complex security and technology requirements," explains John Strittmatter, president of the Southwest Division of Ryan Companies. "For this project, the FBI needs a facility that meets the Level 4 Interagency Security Committee criteria. Ryan Companies is excited to have been named the successful bidder on this project and we will deliver." After construction is completed, Ryan Companies will provide a full-time assistant property manager and a full-time building engineer housed in the project.

City of Phoenix Councilmember Peggy Neely, expressing the community's appreciation for the project, says, "Recognizing it is a difficult economy, this project comes at a critical time, preserving and creating jobs and creating new capital investment in Phoenix."

The facility is expected to be completed by the first quarter of 2012.

As landlord for the federal civilian government, GSA provides workspace solutions to more than one million federal workers in 2,100 American communities, stimulating local economies by designing, building, managing and maintaining iconic public buildings as well as leasing from the private sector.  GSA will administer the new lease and named the building a "Design Excellence" project, which ensures excellence in public architecture, engineering, and construction.  GSA is a leader in sustainable design and construction and requires this new facility achieve a minimum of LEED Silver rating in the “New Construction” category. Ryan Companies will use Energy Savings Performance utility agreements to achieve, maintain, and/or exceed the Energy Star benchmark.

About Ryan Companies US, Inc.
Ryan Companies US, Inc. is a leading national commercial real estate firm offering integrated construction and development as well as asset, property and facilities management services to customers. Ryan Companies has offices in Minneapolis, Chicago, San Diego, Tampa, Cedar Rapids, Des Moines, and Phoenix. Since formally opening its Southwest regional office in Phoenix in 1994, Ryan has been responsible for constructing projects totaling more than 15 million square feet in the greater Phoenix area. www.ryancompanies.com.