Dial's Head Quarters - North Scottsdale

Peter Corbett / The Arizona Republic

May. 1, 2008 06:20 AM

Tromping around the state trust land that Westcor acquired earlier this week for $99 million, it takes imagination to envision mid-rise hotels, condos and the Palisene shopping center on this site northwest of Loop 101 and Scottsdale Road. Roadrunners roam on this 112-acre tract of desert, marked by washes, creosote bushes and saguaros standing sentinel. But one look across the street reveals how quickly the desert can be transformed.

Sixteen months ago, Dial Corp. started construction of a 350,000-square-foot building that will serve as U.S. headquarters and research center for the soap-making and consumer products company. The Dial building, designed by Phoenix architect Will Bruder, is taking shape northeast of Loop 101 and Scottsdale Road.