Construction to begin on San Luis port annex
Groundbreaking ceremony Tuesday to mark start of work on new pedestrian addition
The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will co-host a groundbreaking ceremony on Tuesday to celebrate the start of construction for a new pedestrian annex at the San Luis Port of Entry.
Mesa-based Concord General Contracting, in partnership with architecture firm Jones Studio of Scottsdale, were awarded the contract to build the addition to the existing pedestrian processing building currently at the San Luis port.
According to the GSA, when completed in October 2018, this approximately $6 million expansion project will include the construction of a new 8,000-square-foot building that will increase the number of pedestrian inspection booths from seven to 10, and aims to reduce northbound pedestrian wait times by utilizing a more efficient operational floor plan.
In addition to increasing processing capacity, the state-of-the-art building will also include new offices and public spaces. The design aims to deliver a building that lowers operating and life-cycle costs despite its location in an extreme desert climate.
Solar panels, high levels of insulation and use of natural lighting throughout the facility will help meet a goal of “Zero-Net Energy” and allow the building to generate and operate from its own power supply.
Low-use water fixtures, rainwater harvesting and native landscaping will help the facility thrive in extremely dry conditions.
The modernized facility, will also provide energy efficiency and optimize life-cycle costs to ensure resilience within an extremely harsh climate and maximize value to the U.S. taxpayer.
According to CBP the San Luis port is an important border crossing that links the states of Arizona, and Sonora, Mexico. Currently, pedestrian traffic and operations have exceeded the capacity of the existing facility in operation there.
Speaking at the ceremony will be Governor Doug Ducey, U.S. Senator Jeff Flake, U.S. Representative Raul Grijalva, Governor Claudia Pavlovich Arellano, of the State of Sonora, Mexico, and San Luis Mayor Gerardo Sanchez.
Also scheduled to speak are Mayor Leonard Guileen Medina, and city of San Luis Rio Colorado Mexico Acting Administrator, Tim Horne, U.S. General Services Administration and San Luis Port Director Ofc. John A. Schwamm.
The port is located in San Luis on Highway 95 and the Mexican Border. The ceremony will begin at 3 p.m.