The idea of Loop 101 as a tech corridor has been kicking around for a while now, but more recently it's gaining an international reputation as a strong pocket of tech without the high price tags of places like Silicon Valley or Boston.

Recently the UK-based ARM Inc, a semiconductor intellectual property specialist, inked a lease for 13k SF at The Park at San Tan in Chandler. "The Loop 101 is increasingly known for hosting technology companies from Chandler (Southast Valley) to North Scottsdale," Cushman & Wakefield's Chris Nord tells us. ARM will house about 60 employees at the Loop 101 location.

Tenants such as ARM are coming to the area for the same reasons as more local tech companies, Chris notes. "This span of Loop 101 provides ease of freeway access, proximity to labor pools, quality of real estate and nearness to desirable housing and educational institutions," he says. Chris, along with Neil Gorman of Cushman & Wakefield of London, repped ARM in the deal, while NGKF's Mike Garlick repped TA Associates Realty, the landlord.