Drone Brothers recently wrapped aerial documentation work on the latest milestone at Ryan Companies’s ongoing redevelopment project at Friendship Village Tempe in Tempe. As part of Phase Three of the campus transformation, crews completed the demolition of an existing building to prepare the site for the next stage of construction.
The Friendship Village Tempe redevelopment is one of the most ambitious senior living revitalization projects in Arizona. Originally built in the 1980s, the 50-acre continuing care retirement community is undergoing a long-term six-phase modernization plan designed to enhance resident living, amenities, and community connection for years to come.
Ryan Companies is serving as both the builder and architect through Ryan A+E for the multi-phase redevelopment, with development led by LCS Development. Phase Three will introduce a new five-story, 175,900-square-foot independent living building featuring 69 residences, guest suites, underground parking, wellness spaces, club rooms, and elevated amenity areas.
Our team documented the demolition progress from above, capturing the transition point between removal and rebuild, a critical stage in large-scale occupied campus redevelopment projects like this one. Demolition on active senior living campuses requires careful coordination, communication, and safety planning to minimize disruption for residents while maintaining construction momentum.
One of the most unique aspects of the Friendship Village Tempe master plan is how each phase connects back into the existing community. Earlier phases introduced rooftop pickleball courts, the Starfire rooftop restaurant and microbrewery, and modern independent living spaces that were fully leased before completion.
With demolition now complete for this section of Phase Three, the site is officially prepared for vertical construction to begin on the next generation of residences and amenities at Friendship Village Tempe.
Drone Brothers is proud to continue supporting project documentation efforts for Ryan Companies and helping showcase the progress of one of the Southwest’s most innovative senior living redevelopment projects.
Learn more about Friendship Village Tempe and Ryan Companies.



