SkySong marks 20 years: A bold idea is now a regional powerhouse

Article originally posted on Phoenix Business Journal on March 13, 2026

Twenty years ago, when we first began talking about transforming the site of a former struggling retail center in south Scottsdale into an innovation hub, more than a few people were skeptical.

Could a university-anchored innovation center really thrive in the middle of the desert? Would global companies choose to locate high-wage jobs in a place better known for resorts and retail? Could a public-private partnership anchored by Arizona State University truly spark a new kind of economic ecosystem?

As we celebrate the 20th anniversary of SkySong, The ASU Scottsdale Innovation Center, the answer to those questions is clear: A resounding ‘Yes.’

When Plaza Companies partnered with ASU and the city of Scottsdale in the mid 2000s, the goal was bold: create a global center for innovation, technology and entrepreneurship that would diversify our economy and position Arizona for long-term growth. At the time, the site was home to a declining shopping center. The concept of replacing it with a research park–style environment focused on international business and emerging tech was unproven in this market.

But we believed in the vision.

From the beginning, SkySong was designed to be more than just office buildings. It was intended to be a community – a place where startups, Fortune 500 companies, researchers, students and international firms could work side by side. ASU’s global reach and commitment to innovation became the intellectual engine. The private sector brought flexibility, market discipline and long-term investment. Scottsdale brought leadership and confidence in the future.

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