MESA, AZ-Bridgestone Americas Inc., the Nashville, TN-based subsidiary of Bridgestone Corp., has broken ground on 10 acres, which will be its future Biorubber Process Research Center. The multimillion-dollar research center is anticipated to open sometime in 2014.

The purpose of the development at East Pecos and South Mountain Roads is to study and transform the native Guayule into tire-grade rubber. Guayule, which grows in the southwest desert, produces natural rubber in its roots and bark.

The center was designed by Wadsworth, OH-based architectural firm, Louis Perry and Associates. Contracting firm Howard S. Wright will be managing construction from its Scottsdale, AZ location.

The site will include an 8,400-square-foot office/lab building; a four-platform, 3,500-square-foot shrub preparation building, and a 3,100-square-foot mechanical and electrical building. The first rubber samples for tire evaluations are anticipated by mid-2015.

Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations LLC, a BSA subsidiary, is executing the project in collaboration with Bridgestone Corp., which is also providing funding and strategy for the project. Bridgestone Americas will operate the pilot farm and process research facility. Bridgestone Americas team also will leverage the resources of its Bridgestone Americas Center for Research and Technology and Bridgestone's Americas Technical Center for technical and research expertise.