Construction Goes Vertical On WestStar Tower At Hunt Plaza

EL PASO, Texas, Jan. 21, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Downtown El Paso's skyline will continue to change as construction on WestStar Tower is well underway and the public will see more vertical activity as 2019 begins. Since the official groundbreaking in June of last year, crews have been working diligently to clear the lot for WestStar Tower at Hunt Plaza which encompasses the entire city block bordered by Mesa Street, Missouri Avenue, Oregon Street and Wyoming Avenue. In December the large construction crane was delivered onsite. When complete, WestStar Tower, a multi-tenant, multi-level office building, will be the tallest building in El Paso at 313 feet and 6 inches high.

"Over the next 30 days, the public will start to see more activity above ground. It's an exciting time during the life of a landmark project like this," said Jeff Cole, Project Executive for Moss, the general contractor on the project. "We are hoping that interested parties will follow our progress online with construction 'cam.'"

The construction cam is tracking progress and a time-lapse video can be seen by going to www.weststartower.com or https://app.oxblue.com/open/Moss/WestStarTower.

Between now and early 2019, progress will be made on the following parts of the project.

• Column formation and placement, which support level 2 (the first elevated deck)
• Formation of the level 2 garage deck
• Installation of the mechanical, electrical and plumbing aspects in slab or which penetrate slab
• Structural steel reinforcement and post-tensioning for the slab
• Anchor embeds which will support the curtain wall glazing
• Placement of portions of the level 2 deck
• Ramp from ground level on Missouri Street into the parking structure
• Column line supports for level 3 (before all of level 2 deck is completed)

The overall project will include approximately 262,000 rentable square feet of true Class "AA" space, 13,000 square feet of ground level office and retail space.

WestStar Tower will convey world-class architecture, state-of-the-art office space and beautiful views to commercial tenants in the heart of the city. On the ground level, the outdoor Hunt Plaza will feature a beautifully landscaped green space with outdoor seating and dining in a park-like atmosphere, which will also serve as a venue for community events. Occupying a full city block, the building will offer proximity to area amenities such as Southwest University Park, the Museum District, San Jacinto Plaza, and the new El Paso Streetcar system.

The office building will serve as the corporate headquarters for Hunt, occupying three floors of the building with about 170 employees. The Hunt Family Foundation will also be located in the building. It will also serve as the corporate headquarters for WestStar, which will occupy three floors and will also have a commercial bank operation on the ground floor. WestStar and its affiliates will have approximately 260 employees working in the new location. The building will offer approximately 850 parking spaces.

Project partners include Duda|Paine (architect), Gensler (design), OJB (landscape architect) and Moss (general contractor). Pre-leasing has begun. Sonny Brown & Associates are leading the leasing and sales effort for commercial and retail users. For more information, visit http://www.weststartower.com/

ABOUT HUNT

Hunt is comprised of a family of companies in the real estate and infrastructure markets. As a private, family-owned company, Hunt develops, invests, manages and finances assets at all stages to derive and deliver value. Founded in 1947, Hunt builds its reputation on integrity and performance. With a focus on excellence in corporate governance, Hunt is committed to a culture of transparency for employees, clients, investors and the communities it serves. Hunt employs over 1,700 direct employees, and its broader platform (including affiliates) employs over 6,000 additional employees across the United States and Europe. Learn more at www.huntcompanies.com.

ABOUT WESTSTAR

WestStar is a locally owned community bank with assets of more than $1.7 billion. Servicing the El Paso, Las Cruces and northern Mexico area (collectively known as the Borderplex region), it provides businesses and retail consumers local access to a broad array of banking, wealth management, insurance and title services. Additionally, WestStar team members serve on over 100 boards and committees of nonprofit and civic organizations and participate in a wide range of community betterment efforts and philanthropic causes. For more information, visit the WestStar website at www.weststarbank.com.

ABOUT DUDA|PAINE

Duda|Paine Architects provides a full complement of design, interior design, architectural, planning and master planning services to a diverse array of international corporate, academic, health care and cultural arts clients. The firm's enduring success results from an idea-based design process that engages participants and fosters inspiration to achieve visionary built work. The firm's extensive network of associate architects and expert consultants provides highly specialized and innovative design solutions. To date, Duda|Paine Architects has received 45 design, civic and industry awards and been featured in more than one hundred publications and exhibitions. With over five million square feet of completed projects in the United States and internationally, eighty- five percent of the firm's current work comes from repeat clients – a testament to Duda|Paine's process of engagement and focus on client satisfaction. For additional information, visit www.dudapaine.com.

ABOUT GENSLER

Gensler is a global interior design firm grounded in the belief that great design optimizes business performance and human potential. Our 4,700 practitioners, networked across 46 offices, use global perspective and local presence to innovate at every scale. Whether we are refreshing a retailer's brand, planning a new urban district or designing a super tall building, we strive to make the everyday places people occupy more inspiring, more resilient and more impactful. For more information, go to www.gensler.com.

ABOUT OJB

Founded in 1989, OJB Landscape Architecture began with a focus on creating landscapes that provide unique and unforgettable sensory experiences. OJB's recent work has focused on the rejuvenation of American cities through the creation of distinctive public park spaces including ULI Urban Open Space Award winning Klyde Warren Park in Dallas and Myriad Gardens in Oklahoma City. Other notable projects include the artfully planted Sunnylands Center and Gardens in Rancho Mirage, CA, Levy Park in Houston and LeBauer Park in Greensboro. In 2016, James Burnett, FASLA, founder of OJB Landscape Architecture, received the ASLA Design Medal and in 2015, OJB received the ASLA Firm Award for its portfolio of work. Learn more at www.ojb.com.

ABOUT MOSS

Moss, a Hunt affiliate, is a national privately held construction firm providing innovative solutions resulting in award-winning projects. With regional offices across the United States, Moss focuses on construction management at-risk, design-build and public-private partnerships. The company's diverse portfolio encompasses a wide range of sectors, including luxury high-rise residential, landmark mixed-use developments, hospitality, primary and higher education, justice and solar energy. Moss is ranked by Engineering News-Record as one of the nation's top 75 general contractors. Moss prides itself on a strong entrepreneurial culture that honors safety, quality, client engagement and employee development. Its employees consistently rank Moss as one of the best places to work. For more information, go to www.mosscm.com.

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SOURCE Hunt Companies