Central Arizona Project Water Education Center

For 40 years, Central Arizona Project (CAP) has delivered Colorado River water to central and southern Arizona. To share this legacy with the public, CAP has partnered with Mortenson and architect Jones Studio, Inc, to build a Water Education Center (WEC) in north Phoenix. The WEC will consist of two distinct buildings positioned on opposite sides of the CAP canal and connected by a steel-grated breezeway that spans the water; it will be the first building to span the 336-mile CAP canal, which delivers Colorado River water to Central and Southern Arizona. The WEC design both showcases architectural ingenuity and symbolizes the flow of knowledge and community connection central to the project’s purpose.

The Mortenson-led construction team broke ground on the north side of the canal May 1, 2025. Intended as a destination to tell the Central Arizona Project story, the WEC will offer a range of educational and gathering spaces. Visitors will arrive through a xeriscape landscape that leads into the administrative building—home to meeting rooms, event spaces, and support facilities. From there, visitors can cross the breezeway to reach the exhibit building, which will house immersive, visual, and interactive exhibits highlighting CAP’s legacy and the history of water in Arizona.

Construction over and around this 80-foot-wide canal involves high-risk safety precautions. Guided by Mortenson’s expertise, the team at CAP is tackling extensive planning to avoid working over the water. One strategy is to use a large crane during steel erection, which enables the crew to safely reach across the water. Additionally, the bridge components will be painted before they're installed, eliminating the need for paint crews to be suspended over the canal.

An essential part of this project is to avoid environmental impact by keeping construction debris and byproducts out of the canal, protecting the water and maintaining the condition of the surrounding land. It is common practice to keep a tidy jobsite, but the Mortenson-led team is being extra diligent to have containment systems and preventative measures in place. One unique preventative measure is the site being designated water bottle–free to prevent litter and protect the canal. CAP’s mission is to reliably deliver Colorado River water to Maricopa, Pinal and Pima Counties. Mortenson is supporting Central Arizona Project’s mission by promoting responsible use of these water resources.