Downtown Phoenix is getting ready to shoot for the stratosphere. Empire Group’s Aspirant Development has rebranded its long-planned megaproject from Astra to Arro, and the new name comes with a bolder pitch: a two-tower complex that would include what is expected to be the tallest building in Arizona.
The plan calls for a 541-foot north tower and a 425-foot south tower wrapped into roughly 1.8 million square feet of mixed-use space. On the docket are luxury residences, a 250-key hotel, office floorplates, retail, and a 275-unit co-living component. Developers say they expect the project to be permit-ready by the end of 2026, with construction targeted to run for about three years after that.
In a release and coverage by AZ Big Media, Geoffrey Jacobs, managing partner of Aspirant Development, framed the stakes this way: “Arro represents a defining moment not only for our team, but for Downtown Phoenix as a whole.” The article details a 380-unit Class A+ residential tower in the north structure and about 150,000 square feet of large-floorplate office space in the south tower, with Diversified Partners leading retail leasing.
Empire Group of Companies, the parent behind Aspirant Development, lists Arro as one of its priority developments and has previously tracked the project under its working name. The company pitches Arro as a luxury urban-infill play designed to stitch together residences, hospitality, and experiential retail into a vertically connected city block.
Dining and nightlife crown the north tower
The team is not shy about trying to turn the top of the tower into a destination in its own right. Developers say local hospitality operator Pretty Decent Concepts will build and run a signature, multi-level penthouse restaurant and nightlife venue across the top two floors of the north tower.
According to AZ Big Media, the group is envisioning a roughly 16,000-square-foot, design-forward concept. Founders such as Teddy Myers have already been pushing deeper into downtown, a trend tracked by the Phoenix New Times. The penthouse program is being positioned as a major magnet for both residents and visitors looking for a high-elevation night out.
Scale and skyline
If Arro is built as currently sketched, its 541-foot peak would overtake the existing state height champ, Chase Tower, which tops out at roughly 483 feet. The Skyscraper Center lists Chase Tower as Arizona’s tallest building, and Arro’s arrival would represent one of the largest single-project additions to the downtown skyline in decades.
Next up on the watch list: the development team says it will be pushing permits through the rest of the year and plans to announce the global hotel flag and additional retail partners in the coming months. If the approvals move on schedule and the construction timeline holds, Arro could significantly reshape downtown Phoenix’s scale and nightlife scene within a few short years.
