Reed Payne has spent 36 years working in real estate in California, but the new executive managing director for the company's Silicon Valley office says it's time to focus on the region he calls home.

UAB has purchased property in Hoover with plans for a new medical office building.

Lauckgroup, a Dallas-based interior architecture firm, was acquired in March by Chicago-based Perkins+Will Group Ltd., combining two firms with Houston presences into what principals of each predict will be a design powerhouse in Texas.

The city's $688 million Waterfront Seattle program includes rebuilding the waterfront after the new State Route 99 tunnel opens and the Alaskan Way Viaduct is taken down.

Paul Berra III, a former executive at specialty chemical maker Solutia, has purchased 86-year-old flooring contractor Missouri Terrazzo Co. from Richard Dreyfus.

Terms of the sale, announced Friday, weren’t disclosed. Berra is the fourth owner in the company’s 86-year history, according to a spokeswoman. Dreyfus will stay on for a period of time as a consultant, she said.

The company installs terrazzo, resinous flooring and wall systems and dyed, polished and stained concrete.

Berra plans…

A private, liberal arts university based in Missouri will begin offering classes this fall in a downtown Gilbert building formerly occupied by another school.

Park University, which already has an Arizona presence in Glendale and Tucson, plans to begin classes this fall in Gilbert pending approval by the Higher Learning Commission and the Arizona State Board for Private Postsecondary Education.

The Missouri-based university will set up shop in about 11,000 square feet of the University Building,…

This Phoenix health firm plans to hire more this year

Pacific Office Automation Inc. has doubled its office and warehouse space in Phoenix, with plans to hire at least 40 employees this year.

Beaverton, Oregon-based Pacific Office Automation moved from its 32,000-square-foot Tempe office into a 65,000-square-foot Phoenix office off McDowell Road and 45th Street in February. A grand opening was held at the office April 5.

Doug Pitassi, Pacific Office’s president, said the larger office is part of the company’s expansion and to accommodate growth…

An Amazon.com Inc. executive and his wife have listed their gorgeous on-the-water property in West Seattle for $2.25 million.

“We absolutely love the beach lifestyle,” said the seller, who asked not to be named for privacy reasons. “Love waking up in the morning and smelling the saltwater, hearing the waves against the bulkhead and watching marine life out the windows.”

Managing broker and owner John Manning of RE/MAX On Market has the new Beach Drive Southwest listing.

“You’re very much…

This will be the fourth apartment complex for the 68-acre development.