McCarthy Breaks Ground on New National Employee Development Campus
McCarthy Building Companies, Inc, one of the oldest and largest construction firms in the United States, has broken ground on an ambitious redevelopment project in Tempe, Arizona, that will create a national learning, training and employee development campus for the company.
The 12-acre McCarthy Anchor Campus, located at 2100 S. Priest Drive, will combine professional learning facilities, leadership development spaces, a hotel and conference center, and amenities designed to encourage collaboration and employee engagement. The campus is scheduled to open in early 2028 and will serve as a central destination for McCarthy’s more than 8,000 salaried and craft employees across the United States.
The new campus represents a significant investment in workforce development at a time when the construction industry continues to face challenges in recruiting, developing and retaining skilled employees. By establishing a dedicated environment for technical training, professional development and leadership education, McCarthy aims to strengthen its workforce while supporting the company’s long-term growth.
The Anchor Campus will expand McCarthy’s nationally recognized employee development programs by bringing employees from different parts of the organization together in one location. In addition to structured training, the campus is designed to create opportunities for employees to share knowledge, develop professional relationships and learn from colleagues across the company.
The initiative is closely connected to McCarthy’s employee-ownership culture. The company views employee development as an important part of creating a workforce that is engaged in the organization’s long-term success. The new campus is expected to provide employees with opportunities to strengthen their technical capabilities, improve leadership skills and build connections that extend across McCarthy’s operations.
Ray Sedey, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of McCarthy, emphasized the importance of investing in people as the construction industry evolves. He noted that project owners increasingly expect greater certainty in project delivery, requiring construction professionals to develop new skills and leadership capabilities.
According to McCarthy, the Anchor Campus is intended to provide an immersive learning environment where employees can gain expertise, exchange ideas and develop the next generation of leaders. The company expects these efforts to benefit employees as well as clients and the broader organization.
The redevelopment will preserve the campus’s existing Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired architectural character while introducing modern facilities suited to contemporary learning and collaboration. McCarthy selected integrated architectural firm SmithGroup to lead the reimagining of the existing campus.
The redesigned facility will feature flexible classrooms that can accommodate different types of training and educational programs. Breakout spaces will provide areas for smaller group discussions, informal learning and collaboration, while adaptable outdoor areas will create additional opportunities for employees to connect outside traditional classroom settings.
On-site lodging accommodations will also be incorporated into the campus, allowing employees traveling from McCarthy offices and projects across the country to stay at the facility while participating in training programs. Wellness amenities are expected to further enhance the employee experience and support a balanced approach to professional development.
The campus has been designed to function as more than a conventional training center. Its combination of learning, lodging, wellness and collaborative spaces is intended to create an environment where employees can spend extended periods developing their skills while building stronger relationships with colleagues.
Dawn Brown, Principal and Senior Project Manager at SmithGroup, said the project was developed around the idea of creating a destination focused not only on training but also on connection, collaboration and personal growth. The partnership between SmithGroup and McCarthy aims to ensure that the renovated campus reflects the company’s culture while supporting the development of future leaders.
Hospitality will also play an important role in the operation of the Anchor Campus. McCarthy has partnered with Pyramid Global Hospitality, a hospitality management company, to operate the campus and oversee the guest experience through its PyramidWorks division.
PyramidWorks specializes in applying hospitality principles to corporate, training and learning environments. Its involvement is intended to create a welcoming setting where employees can focus on learning while also developing meaningful professional connections.
Warren Fields, Chief Executive Officer of Pyramid Global Hospitality, highlighted the importance of thoughtful service, intentional design and human connection in creating effective workplace environments. Through PyramidWorks, the company will draw on its experience operating hotels, resorts and conference centers to support McCarthy’s objectives for the new campus.
The partnership reflects a broader trend among major employers toward creating dedicated environments that combine workplace learning with hospitality and community-building elements. Rather than treating employee training as a series of short-term programs, McCarthy is developing a permanent destination where learning and organizational culture can be integrated into the employee experience.
The timing of the project is also significant for the construction sector. Contractors across the United States continue to compete for skilled craft professionals and experienced salaried employees, while technological changes, increasingly complex projects and evolving client expectations are reshaping the skills required across the industry.
For McCarthy, the Anchor Campus provides an opportunity to address these challenges through structured workforce development. Craft employees can benefit from technical training, while salaried professionals can participate in leadership and professional development programs. Bringing employees together from different roles and regions may also encourage knowledge sharing and greater consistency across the company.
When it opens in early 2028, the McCarthy Anchor Campus is expected to become an important part of the company’s national employee development strategy. The facility will provide a dedicated setting for training, leadership development, collaboration and relationship building while reinforcing McCarthy’s employee-ownership culture.
By investing in a campus that brings together modern learning facilities, hospitality services and wellness amenities, McCarthy is positioning employee development as a long-term strategic priority. The project underscores the company’s belief that a strong workforce is essential to delivering increasingly complex construction projects and meeting the evolving expectations of clients.
Ultimately, the Anchor Campus is designed to support more than professional training. It will serve as a place where McCarthy employees can learn from one another, strengthen their careers, develop leadership capabilities and build connections across the organization. As the construction industry continues to navigate workforce challenges, the company’s investment in this new national development hub demonstrates the growing importance of people, skills and culture in shaping the future of construction.
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