BY ALISON BAILIN BATZ
As one of Arizona’s most sustainability-driven construction firms, CHASSE Building Team is helping reshape how the built environment impacts communities across the state. Founded in 2007, CHASSE Building Team is a 100% employee-owned general contracting company that has grown to more than 260 team members. The firm currently manages an average of $600 million in construction projects annually — exclusively within Arizona.
Leading the charge is chief executive officer Barry Chasse, a past president and Life Director of the Arizona Builders Alliance and a proud member of the Sun Devil 100. Chasse’s leadership has helped define the firm’s purpose-driven culture and deep- rooted commitment to sustainable, community- focused construction. A key driver of CHASSE’s success is its dedication to building affordable, energy-efficient spaces — a philosophy that was fully embraced during the design and construction of its Tempe-based office.
THE HEADQUARTERS
“We expanded to a larger headquarters in 2019 and approached the design and construction effort with sustainability at the forefront,” said Chasse. “Our vision was to ‘make something new again,’ which began with selecting an existing structure to repurpose and salvaging as many materials as possible.” The team chose a 1970s warehouse in Tempe and retained over 70% of the original building components, blending them with a fresh, modern industrial design. “In doing so, we were able to recycle 75% of our construction waste,” Chasse added. “Every aspect of our space is not only environmentally responsible but also takes into consideration team member comfort and operational protocols.”
The building also incorporates cutting-edge technologies aimed at reducing energy use. For example, CHASSE installed a Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) system, which lowers energy consumption by more than 30% compared to conventional systems. The fully automated Energy Management Systems are programmed to shut down when spaces are unoccupied.
“To passively cool our office, we rely on mechanical economizers and low-velocity ceiling fans that circulate fresh air throughout the space,” said Chasse. “Our high-performing building envelope keeps the heat out and the cool air in. We use low SHG glass, radiant heat barriers, natural plant shading, and rigid insulation in the building’s facade. Even our landscaping is xeriscape.” In support of sustainable commuting and convenience, CHASSE provides bikes and scooters for team members to use during lunch breaks and errands.
BEYOND BUILDING THEIR HOME
Beyond creating its own sustainable headquarters, CHASSE has spent more than 18 years leading the charge in environmentally responsible construction practices across Arizona. “We are always looking to identify sustainable opportunities within our industry, navigating clients through the process, and educating everyone involved on how sustainability can be affordable,” said Scott Hufford, president of CHASSE Building Team. “We are dedicated advocates of green building. In fact, our multifamily division has created an industry-wide LEED standard.”
According to Hufford, his team has completed over two dozen LEED Certified projects across Greater Phoenix and Tucson in recent years—eight of which have achieved LEED Platinum certification. Among their notable green building achievements: Urban Living On 2nd Avenue: A LEED Platinum Certified redevelopment of an existing downtown Phoenix office complex into a 70-unit Low- Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) multifamily, mixed-income rental project. AVIVA: An amenity- rich, smart apartment community and the first multifamily development in the area to be built to National Green Building Standards (NGBS).
Patina Wellness Center: A LEED Silver facility offering substance abuse and co-occurring treatment services focused on the integration of mind, body, and spirit. Boys & Girls Club of the East Valley Compadre Branch: A LEED Silver project utilizing local sourcing, recycled content materials, low-flow fixtures, and salvaged demo materials. Cedar Crossing: A LEED Platinum affordable housing development recognized with the Housing Hero Award by the Arizona Department of Housing. Mesa Artspace: A LEED Platinum housing development for low-income artists that earned LEED for Homes Midrise Platinum status by incorporating high-efficiency systems, including LED lighting and low-flow water fixtures.
CHASSE recently completed the Child Crisis Arizona Center for Family & Child Wellness — a first-of-its-kind, 38,000-square-foot, climate-friendly, net-zero campus —a recipient of the prestigious Living Building Challenge certification, which means it doesn’t just reduce environmental harm, it actively contributes to a healthier planet. Achieving this level of performance required innovative systems like solar energy, greywater reuse, and composting, as well as close collaboration among the project team, extensive documentation, and ongoing performance monitoring. Named the 2024 Best Place to Work in the Valley and honored as one of Arizona’s Champions of Change, CHASSE isn’t just building projects — it’s setting the standard for what’s possible when innovation, sustainability, and community come together. Visit www.chasse.us for more information.
