InBuckeye October 2024

20 YEARS AND COUNTING CORE Construction and Buckeye share a legacy of growth BY JAY TAYLOR A rizona’s cities and businesses have ridden the highs and lows of growth in what has long been one of the nation’s most quickly developing states. Nowhere is that kind of partnership more evident than between CORE Construction and Buckeye. The town of Buckeye was incorporated in 1929, but its explosive growth didn’t begin until this century. In fact, the city had fewer than 10,000 residents as late as 2002. Today, the city of Buckeye, as it became in 2014, is home to 114,000 people. CORE Construction has been honored to be a part of Buckeye’s rich story of growth. As the city’s expansion accelerated in the early aughts, CORE completed its first project in Buckeye, Westpark Elementary School, in 2006. At the time, CORE was a small contractor operating in Phoenix. Todd Steffen, CORE’s Arizona president, reflects on the company’s growth alongside Buckeye since then: “We were working primarily in central Phoenix at that time. We weren’t a statewide contractor yet. So, in many ways, our growth, as a company, mirrors that of Buckeye as a city and community, and we have the community to thank for much of our growth.” Gary Wenk, the project manager on that first Westpark Elementary job, is now the executive vice president of CORE. “We’ve been involved with Buckeye for a long time,” he said. “It started with that first elementary school, and I have to tell you, walkthroughs on the Westpark job were literally taking place in a cotton field. It’s been an amazing journey with the elementary and high school districts. “Our teams have taken huge steps together, and I’m proud to have been a part of seeing the progress that has unfolded in Buckeye over the years. We hope we contributed, in some way, with the quality buildings that serve students and educators today and will for decades to come.” As Buckeye’s population grew exponentially over the past two decades, CORE became a

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as a family with deep roots in Buckeye. That meant being involved with the Buckeye Days festival and Buckeye Chamber of Commerce, attending the Family Hope Fest at Summitt Community Church every year, sharing a passion for construction at high school career fairs and Buckeye Education Foundation’s annual bowling fundraiser, fundraising for first responders and hosting lunches for teachers in the first week back to school. The CORE team is committed to giving back. Today, Buckeye is Arizona’s fastest growing city and CORE has grown from a small firm of fewer than 60 people working to become the No. 1 education builder in the Southwest, according to Building Design & Construction’s 2024 ranking. The upward trajectories of both Buckeye and CORE are intertwined and Steffen, for one, couldn’t be more grateful. “We’re grateful to Buckeye for the past 20 years,” he said. “The city has transformed since 2005, and we’re honored to have been a part of that journey — from farm fields to where we are now. We look forward to seeing what the next 20 years hold for CORE and Buckeye.” The relationship continues today, with two significant projects currently underway in the Buckeye and surrounding area — Blue Horizon Fire Station No. 707 and the region’s newest elementary school, Loretta Zumbro Elementary, which brokeground last month.

trusted builder, meeting the city’s residential, civic and public safety needs. CORE and Buckeye’s history are intertwined through projects across the city, including two performing arts centers for Buckeye Union High School District (2007), Inca Elementary School (2008), the Apache Road Canal project (2008), Buckeye Elementary School District Office Campus and Transportation Center (2009), Sundance Crossing Public Safety Facility Renovation (2014) and Buckeye Fire Station No. 704 (2016). One of CORE and Buckeye’s most significant projects is Buckeye City Hall, completed in 2009. The 44,000-square-foot facility, designed by DLR Group architects in Phoenix, reflects Buckeye’s storied history while creating a civic center that bolstered the city’s growth. “We have worked for the police department, fire department, the city, the elementary school district and the union high school district,” Steffen said. “As Buckeye grew, families settled down, the community naturally needed new services like schools to create an educational environment and first responders nearby to serve and protect the community. We were honored to build up the city’s vision and lay the foundation for future growth.” Every step of the way, CORE was invested in the community not just as a builder, but

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