Viasat expands operations in Arizona

ARIZONA – Viasat, a California-based satellite communications company, is expanding in Tempe and will develop more than 300,000 square feet of space at the Arizona State University (ASU) Research Park, where it plans to increase its workforce by about 1,500 employees.

Although the company already has a presence at the Research Park, located near Highway 101 and Warner Road, it has plans for three phases of new development on 16 acres near the center of the ASU complex, said Morgan Olsen, the university’s chief financial officer.

The first phase will begin construction this summer and is scheduled for completion in June 2024. It will include 135,000 square feet of space with an outdoor atrium and parking structure. Future phases will include additional parking, a conference area and a cafeteria.

Bob Rota, Viasat’s vice president of facilities and security, said jobs will include engineering positions, especially software engineering, operational and administrative functions.

Company officials said the company’s presence in the ASU Research Park, as well as the affordable cost, availability of talent and a favorable business climate led them to expand in Tempe after evaluating other markets.

Olsen said the rental fees the university collects fund the operations of the Research Park, and feed ASU’s budget for licensing and patenting university inventions. The Viasat expansion will occupy one of the last two remaining development sites in the park, which has about 50 corporate tenants.

“We had been looking for the right tenant to occupy this site,” Olsen said, noting that the 320-acre park’s buildings are 98% occupied.

In seeking tenants for the park, ASU is looking for companies that will make a long-term commitment and benefit from a relationship with the university, as well as create job opportunities for ASU graduates and consulting opportunities for faculty.

Source: MEXICONOW Staff