Completed: 2008 Architect: Baldinger Studio (520); Roberts/Jones (Brownstones) Current Use: residential townhomes The 520 and Brownstone projects exemplify the diversity found in Tempe’s architecture and represent divergent approaches to the same use and location. The 520 project, consisting of only 15 units divided into two buildings, is unabashedly modern, while the larger Brownstones project features massing and details that recall historic architecture. Other new townhome projects of varying styles are located in the general vicinity....

Completed: 1899; 1982 rehabilitation Architect: James Creighton; Steppe & Wilson / Siefer Associates (rehab) Current Use: Retail, restaurant, and office space Built by R.G. Andre and based on an earlier structure on the same site by one of Arizona’s pre-eminent territorial architects, this building has served a number of community roles, primarily as a commercial and retail building. The architecture stands out with its combination of Victorian panel brick style and Neo-classical details featuring distinctive brickwork, iron columns and a pediment. During rehabilitation, a new steel frame was inserted into the building envelope and tied to the historic brick walls. A fire sprinkler system was also added. These improvements allowed the structure to be saved during a fire in the late 1990’s. The property is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Also see: www.tempe.gov/museum; www.tempe.gov/3decades/....

Completed: 2004-2006 Architect: Gould – Evans / Lord Aeck & Sargent Current Use: research Building B is a L.E.E.D. (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, as established by the U.S. Green Building Council) platinum-certified building, first in the state to receive such a designation. Building A, completed in 2004, is L.E.E.D. gold-certified. Green building features include an exterior shading system to reduce heat gain, low flow lavatory fixtures resulting in a 30% water use reduction, a 5,000 gallon irrigation cistern that collects air conditioning condensate water, and locally produced Terrazzo floors, among many others. Louvers in the shading system on the north elevation of Building B are designed to recall the pattern of the genetic code....

Completed: 1964 Architect: Frank Lloyd Wright with Taliesin Associated Architects Current Use: performing arts and classrooms Located on a prominent site where the adjoining roadway forms a broad curve, the building’s use of circular and curved forms link it to its site as well as providing a signature structure for the Arizona State University Tempe campus. Commissioned to commemorate the school’s elevation to university status ina 1958 referendum, it is the last public building designed by world famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright, completed after his (and ASU President Gammage’s) death. World-renowned for its acoustics, the building was inspired by an earlier design Wright had conceived for the Bagdad Opera House. The nearby music building was also designed by Taliesin Associated Architects a few years after completion of Gammage Auditorium. An attached “garage” for the acoustic orchestra shell was added by Taliesin in the late 1990’s, allowing for a deeper stage to accommodate larger Broadway-type productions. The property is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Also see: http://uabf.asu.edu/historic_preservation; Landmark Buildings: Arizona’s Architectural Heritage, Patterson/Vinson; and numerous publications devoted to the works of Frank Lloyd Wright....

Completed: 1967; 1989 addition Architect: Weaver and Drover; Sasaki Associates (addition) Current Use: university central library Prominently situated in a central location on campus, Hayden (named for Charles Trumbull Hayden, the founder of modern-day Tempe, who was instrumental in persuading the Territorial legislature to locate the normal school in the community) is the university’s central library. The original 5-story tower was expressed in the modernist pavilion style, surrounded by a dry moat sculpture garden and reading area. The addition was placed beneath the campus quad, west of the original structure. A “lantern” admits light to, and at night, emits light from the lobby beneath. Access is gained though an open-air courtyard....

Completed: 2006 Architect: Perkins & Will Current Use: research laboratories This building provides flexible laboratory spaces for research in bioengineering, neural engineering, molecular, tissue and cell engineering to develop artificial organs and ‘smart’ implant devices. The structure offers intriguing architectural features which respond to the differing environmental conditions of each elevation....

Completed: 2004 Architect: Jones Studio with Gensler Current Use: classrooms/offices/computing “Three buildings in one” have been arranged to produce Arizona State University’s new west entry gateway. Below-grade and ground level classroom circulation is designed to accommodate over 2,000 student class changes every hour. Diffused or direct daylight reaches every office and state-of-the-art classroom, regardless of location. Glass inserts in the main east-west walkway transmit natural light to the lower level. Large outdoor seating areas are shaded by the overhanging glass tower (dubbed “the blue ice cube”). The glass tower element, featuring imprinted language fragments from Hopi, Spanish, Korean and mathematics, contrasts with the poured-in-place concrete base. Images courtesy of Jones Studio....

Completed: 1939; 1963 renovation Architect: Lescher & Mahoney Current Use: Classrooms & research Named for former Governor Benjamin B. Moeur, a Tempe physician and champion of education, the combination of adobe construction and Moderne stylistic details makes this building unique in the state. Originally the Student Services Building, it is also the largest structure of its kind to be built in Arizona by the Works Project Administration (WPA) during the Great Depression. Although the original mural walls have been removed, the building retains most of its original integrity and spatial configuration. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Also see: http://uabf.asu.edu/historic_preservation....

Completed: 1894; 1999 rehabilitation Architect: W.A. McGinnis; Van Dijk Pace Westlake with John Douglas (rehab) Current Use: Old Main; meetings, special events and ASU Alumni Association offices Originally known simply as the Main Building, Old Main features Queen Anne Victorian detailing and a grand staircase, combined with native granite from Tempe (Hayden) Butte and red sandstone quarried in Flagstaff. Together with the University Club building to the east, its former twin to the west and Tempe (Hayden) Butte to the north, Old Main defined the original campus quad. Former President Theodore Roosevelt spoke from its steps while visiting Arizona to dedicate Roosevelt Dam in 1911. The first building in Tempe wired for electric lighting, Old Main has been returned to its original appearance after a series of remodels and additions. New ADA-accessible restrooms, an elevator and stairway are incorporated into a compatible, yet distinct, “outboard” tower element on the south side. The building is currently home to the ASU Alumni Association and hosts many special events. It serves as an important landmark for the community, as well as the campus, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Also see: http://uabf.asu.edu/historic_preservation....

Completed: 1993 Architect: Scoggin, Elam & Bray with Leo A. Daly and Associates Current Use: College of Law research and study library This structure features unusual window patterns and the use of lead panels for roofing. The landscaping is an abstraction of indigenous forms and materials. Its unusual forms generate interest on a tight site on the edge of the ASU campus, contrasting with the existing College of Law buildings (the first of which, completed in 1966 by Cartmell & Rossman, made its own architectural statement)....

Completed: 1994 Architect: Jones Studio Current Use: ASU Karsten Clubhouse Bold geometry, as well as whimsical details such as golf club door pulls and golf ball rain chains, make this building a unique addition to the ASU campus and a modern alternative to typical golf clubhouses. Situated to maximize views of the university golf course, the structure employs several environmentally-friendly strategies, including exposed, locally-produced materials. Image courtesy of Jones Studio....

Completed: 1888/1901; 2004 rehabilitation Architect: Unknown; Irby Studio (rehab) Current Use: Architects Design Studio Construction of this 2400 square-foot structure began in 1883 when Samuel Brown built a 2-room adobe. William H. Strong purchased the property in 1901 and expanded the house, using brick and “high-style” detailing to create the present Neo-Colonial/Georgian Revival appearance, complete with wrap-around veranda and simulated “widow’s walk.” A sensitive rehabilitation of the property was completed in 2004, accommodating the architect/owner’s office and a parking/arrival court. The project was recognized with an Arizona Heritage Preservation Honor Award and the Don Hull Award for Environmental Excellence from the Tempe Beautification Awards. It has been determined to be eligible for listing on the Tempe Historic Property Register and the National Register of Historic Places Also see: www.tempe.gov/3decades/....

Completed: 1873; 1924 rehabilitation; later modifications Architect: Robert Evans (1924 rehab) Current Use: Monti’s La Casa Vieja Restaurant Hayden House/La Casa Vieja is one of Tempe’s most significant historic buildings. The house evolved from a traditional Mexican/Sonoran-style row house (1873-1889) to a boarding house (1890-1924), during which time a wood-frame second story was added, followed by a stylistic restoration and conversion to a restaurant. It is notable for its association with Charles Trumbell Hayden and his son, Carl, who was born in the house and become one of Arizona’s most prominent citizens. In 1889, the Hayden family moved to a more spacious ranch east of town, adding a partial second story and converting “the old house” to a boarding house. In 1924, Charles Hayden's daughters, Sallie and Mary, hired Robert Evans, a local architect/builder, to oversee what would be the first restoration of an historic house in Arizona. The upper story was removed and the plastered adobe walls repaired. The sisters opened a tea house and restaurant in the refurbished structure. In 1954, Leonard Monti transformed the landmark into Monti’s La Casa Vieja, a neighborhood steakhouse that has become a favorite for locals and visitors from all 50 states and dozens of foreign countries. Today, Monti’s is the largest full-service restaurant in Arizona. The essence of the 1924 restoration remains intact, although a secondary structural system has been added and the courtyard enclosed. The original ceilings of saguaro ribs are still visible in the oldest rooms. The property is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the Tempe Historic Property Register. Also see: www.tempe.gov/historicpres/; www.tempe.gov/museum; www.tempe.gov/3decades/....

Completed: 1940; 2000 rehabilitation Architect: Unknown; D & L Architects (rehab) Current Use: Harkins Valley Art movie theater The College Theater was constructed 1938-1940 by Dwight "Red" Harkins. This was Harkins' third theater in Tempe. He opened his first, the State Theater, in 1933 on Fifth Street. In 1934 Harkins started an outdoor theater in Tempe Beach Park, which operated for one summer only. Later, Harkins and his son, Dan, expanded their theater operations across the Salt River Valley and beyond. The building is importantly associated with Depression-era business in Tempe. Entertainment was one of the few areas that were economically successful during the Great Depression. This building is significant as the only Depression-era theater constructed in Tempe. Virtually intact, it provides a positive contribution to the historic character of the Mill Avenue streetscape. Character-defining elements include the wood frame movie poster cases and freestanding ticket booth. The original seating was replaced, but the interior “mood” lighting was restored. The property is listed on the Tempe Historic Property Register and is considered eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. Also see: www.tempe.gov/historicpres/; www.tempe.gov/museum; www.tempe.gov/3decades/....

Completed: 1930; 2009 rehabilitation Architect: Robert Evans; Motley Design Group (rehab) Current Use: proposed for office, meeting, and exhibits related to sustainability The house was built as a winter residence for Rose Eisendrath, widow of a wealthy Chicago glove manufacturer. It was designed and built by well-known Phoenix architect/contractor Robert T. Evans. After Mrs. Eisendrath's death in 1936, the property passed through several owners, ultimately becoming a rental. It was acquired by the City of Tempe in 2001. The largest remaining and best-preserved Pueblo Revival style house in the Tempe area, the house is unique for its construction of adobe brick, rarely used in a two-story building. The irregular massing of the house is complemented by the imposing sandstone buttes in the desert at the eastern edge of Papago Park. The house is being rehabilitated as part of the Carl Hayden Campus for Sustainability. When complete, the facility will feature displays on water conservation and sustainability, as well as on the historic structure itself and Rose Eisendrath. Office, meeting and exhibit space will be included. The remainder of the 9+ acre site will be preserved in its native Sonoran Desert condition as part of Tempe's Papago Park. The property is listed on the Tempe Historic Property Register and has been determined to be eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. Also see: www.tempe.gov/historicpres/ and www.tempe.gov/museum. Rendering by Mark Vinson, City of Tempe Community Development Department....

Completed: 1997 Architect: Architekton Current Use: community recreation center The Escalante Center consists of a new structure that creates a safe and inviting community center, preserves the character of an adjacent park and integrates existing pool, bathhouse and community outreach facilities. A contemporary aesthetic fosters harmony among the diverse culture, age and economic levels found in the community. Also see: www.architekton.com....

Completed: 1883; 1992-2006 rehabilitation Architect: Shannon; Woodward/Walling/Cox-James (rehab) Current Use: office The Farmer/Goodwin House is a good example of a Folk expression of Victorian-era architecture. Its massing is similar to other Victorian-era styles, but this building lacks the "gingerbread" detailing often found in such buildings. It is a two-story adobe structure, rectangular in plan, surmounted by a hipped roof punctuated by ten flush wall dormers. It is symmetrical both in plan and elevation; the east and west facades are divided into three equal bays. The exterior adobe walls are finished with plaster, which has been scored with lines to simulate cut stone construction. The corners are detailed with “quoins” of built-up plaster. In plan, the house is composed of a central hall or zaguan with approximately equal-sized rooms disposed symmetrically on either side. The room arrangement is identical on the upper story, and access is by a stairway in the central hall. The wall dormers are a character-defining element, as well as the front veranda porch, which was recently rebuilt. The house was only briefly occupied by its original owner/builder, who lost the property when convicted of a federal offense. It was acquired by Hiram Bradford Farmer, Headmaster of the Tempe Normal School (ASU), and operated as a residence and student boarding house. Around 1900, the property was purchased by members of the pioneer Goodwin family who occupied the home for over 80 years. The house has since been rehabilitated into the architect/owner’s offices. The property is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the Tempe Historic Property Register. Also see: www.tempe.gov/historicpres/ and www.tempe.gov/museum...

Completed: 1907; 1912 addition; 1990 rehabilitation Architect: unknown Current Use: commercial/retail The Goodwin Building is significant for its association with Garfield A. Goodwin, a prominent citizen of Tempe and, for 41 years, operator of the Goodwin Curio Store. Goodwin was mayor of Tempe and served on the Arizona State Teachers College Board of Education in the 1930s and 1940s under Governors Moeur, Jones, and Osborn. He was instrumental in the construction of the football stadium (1937) which was named for him (demolished c1975). Goodwin was also president of the Tempe Chamber of Commerce and led construction of Tempe Beach facilities. The building has housed several retail concerns over the years, including Those Were the Days. Architecturally, the structure is Tempe's only one-story cast iron frame commercial building and retains a significant portion of its exterior and interior integrity. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the Tempe Historic Property Register. Also see: www.tempe.gov/historicpres/; www.tempe.gov/museum; www.tempe.gov/3decades/....

Completed: 1895 Architect: unknown Current Use: offices Built as a Victorian cottage by the Goodwin Brothers for J.W. Harrington, the house was purchased by the Birchett family in 1904. Joseph was a prominent rancher and businessman. His wife, Guess, the sister of Mrs. Benjamin B. Moeur, was known as the “Bird Lady” and was crowned Tempe’s Centennial Queen in 1971. The Birchetts remodeled and expanded the house to a Period Revival/Tudor style in 1931, completely changing its appearance and character. Porches were enclosed and stucco applied to the brick walls. The property, listed on National Register of Historic Places in 1984, is now owned by ASU. Rehabilitation as offices is planned. Also see: http://uabf.asu.edu/historic_preservation; www.tempe.gov/3decades/....

Completed: 1918 / 1951; awaiting rehabilitation Architect: J.C. Steele Current Use: proposed office/retail/exhibit space Perhaps the most iconic of all Tempe structures, the Hayden Flour Mill awaits rehabilitation as part of a planned redevelopment project. In 1868, while waiting for the waters of the flooding Salt River to recede, freighter Charles T. Hayden, on his way from Tucson to Prescott, scaled the nearby butte. Upon surveying the surrounding agricultural valley, Hayden surmised that a water-powered milling operation would be successful at such a location. Hayden eventually returned to acquire the property, along with much of what became Tempe. By the early 1870’s he had completed his first mill, a wood and adobe structure powered by a water wheel. The building was destroyed by fire about 1890 and replaced by a similar structure. When that burned, Hayden commissioned a local designer/builder to construct a 4-story all-concrete mill building. Completed in 1918, the new mill was initially powered by water but was converted to electricity in 1923. The tall concrete silos were added in 1951. The property is significant as the longest continuously used industrial site in the region (operations continued from 1871 until 1997). It has been declared eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places and is slated for listing on the Tempe Historic Property Register. Also see: www.tempe.gov/historicpres/; www.tempe.gov/museum; www.tempe.gov/3decades/....

Completed: 2000 Architect: Jones Studio Current Use: corporate office The general contractor/owner requested a simple, economical building with no exterior paint that would express the nature of its construction on the exterior and interior. The architect utilized open cell concrete masonry units (with individually-glazed panes of glass for ample, yet shaded, daylighting), exposed structural members, a rainwater-harvesting roof and other energy efficient strategies to provide a structure that responded to the client’s desires, as well as the environment. Images courtesy of Jones Studio....

Completed: 1903 (Walker House), 1920 (Manley Cottage); 1994 rehabilitation Architect: Unknown; Michael Wilson Kelly (rehab) Current Use: House of Tricks; restaurant The Harry Walker House (on the east side of the property) is noteworthy for its architectural value as a rare surviving house type and its contribution to the interpretation of the architectural evolution of Tempe. Its construction dates from the period between the recession of the late Victorian design influences and the overwhelming popularity of the Bungalow style. This residential design format often included influences from the Georgian Revival mode of the Neo-Colonial style. The Harry Walker House is an excellent local example of this house type built for a modest working class family. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Manley Cottage (west side of the property) was built by a widow as a rental and is an example of the Bungalow, or Craftsman, style. The front yard has been converted to a dining area and a pergola with a fire pit added. Also see: www.tempe.gov/museum; www.houseoftricks.com; www.tempe.gov/3decades/....

Completed: 2006 Architect: Michael Wilson Kelly Current Use: community recreation, classroom and meeting space The center is an all-ages facility for educational, recreational, social, and fitness development. Classrooms, a computer lab, electronic library resource center, a senior center, kitchen, gymnasium, fitness facility and office space are provided. The building offers a distinctive architectural style, resulting from a creative combination of public art, textured/colored concrete blocks, pre-fabricated metal structural elements and a 24’ high by 3’ wide river rock “gabion” wall. Also see: www.mwkarch.com....

Completed: 1992 relocations/rehabilitations Architect: Various; Siefer Associates (rehabs) Current Use: offices Olde Towne Square is a collection of five Territorial-era houses that were dismantled and rebuilt on a new site. Four of the buildings were in the downtown redevelopment area. The fifth, the Woolf/Cole House, had been demolished 20 years earlier, but the pieces had been kept in storage. Both the Frankenberg House, originally at 129 E. University, and the Long House, 27 E. 6th Street, were listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Because the houses were dismantled, relocated and rebuilt around new structural frames, however, they are no longer eligible for listing on the National Register. However, the project demonstrated a new approach to saving some of Tempe's historic buildings that would have otherwise been lost. Three of the buildings in Olde Towne Square were built by J. W. Woolf and Milton Meyer, pioneer homebuilders in Tempe. They are easy to distinguish, due to their rusticated concrete blocks, made to resemble real stone, with ornate Corinthian style concrete columns. In the early 1900s, the Neo-Classical style Woolf-Meyer houses were striking examples of the most modern method of construction. Also see: www.tempe.gov/museum; www.tempe.gov/3decades/....

Completed: 1892; 1980 restoration Architect: James Creighton; Janus Associates (restoration) Current Use: museum and park Danish immigrant and early Tempe Pioneer Niels Petersen hired Arizona’s pre-eminent territorial architect to design a home for his new bride, Susanna. The result was a two-story structure situated amidst Petersen’s agricultural holdings. James Creighton, who also designed the Pinal County Courthouse and Old Main at the University of Arizona, produced a fine example of the Queen Anne Victorian style. Eccentric in its lack of symmetry, irregular roof lines and “gingerbread” ornamentation, the house was a vast departure from Petersen’s previous adobe casita. After Niels died in 1923 and Susanna in 1927 (they are buried on the grounds), the property passed to Susanna’s nephew, Rev. Edwin Decker. Decker “modernized” the house, removing some of the Victorian ornamentation, rebuilding the porch in the bungalow style and constructing a wood frame addition in the early 1930’s. After Decker’s death in 1948, the property passed, by will, to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Petersen’s lodge.. Acquisition by the City in 1979 allowed for restoration of the house and operation by the Tempe Historical Museum. The property received a Governor’s Award for Historic Preservation in 1989, following restoration of the interior. It is listed on both the National Register of Historic Places and the Tempe Historic Property Register. Also see: www.tempe.gov/historicpres/ and www.tempe.gov/museum....

Completed: 1995 Architect: Architekton Current Use: police substation with community room and training area The design concept resulted in a configuration featuring a community room at the core with police functions positioned around public spaces. Curvilinear forms were combined with poured-in-place concrete, integrally-colored concrete block and exposed steel to create a welcoming effect reflective of the City’s ‘community-based policing’ philosophy. The project received an AIA Arizona Honor Award. Also see: www.architekton.com....

Completed: 2001 Architect: Tyndall Associates (RSP Architects) Current Use: loft offices, interim transit operation office, restaurant and hospitality penthouse Located on a tight downtown site near ASU’s Sun Devil Stadium and a large apartment complex, this building employs strong massing and honest expression of materials to at once harmonize and stand-out in its urban context. A “green screen” shades the west side of the building, while large “roll-up” windows on the east allow upper level offices to take advantage of mild weather and natural breezes. Circulation spaces between offices, as well as vertically throughout the building, have been placed beyond the structure’s skin in order to minimize the amount of air conditioned interior space. Also see: www.RSParch.com; www.tempe.gov/3decades/....

Completed: 1912 – 2009 Architect: various Current Use: Salt River Bridges, pedestrian, train, and vehicular bridges Together, these structures form a continuum of transportation means and methods from Arizona’s Territorial period to the latest technological achievements. The Ash Bridge was constructed utilizing convict labor but became outmoded soon after its completion in 1913. The bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places prior to its 1990 demolition. The rise of automobile traffic, combined with later structural failures led to the abandonment of the Ash Bridge and construction of the Tempe (Mill Avenue Bridge) in 1930-31. This structure, designed with Spanish Colonial Revival features by Ralph Hoffman of the Arizona Highway Department, is listed on the Tempe and National Historic Property Registers. A parallel new bridge was completed in 1992 to accommodate northbound traffic. The arrival of the railroad in Tempe in the late 1880’s brought a new prosperity to the little agrarian village. Several bridges were constructed but only the 1912 steel truss structure, erected by the Southern Pacific Railroad, remains in use. It is considered eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. Adjacent, to the east, is the new Light Rail Bridge which incorporates public art in the form of colored lighting which is activated by passing trains, yet maintains a low profile, deferring to the historic railroad bridge. The downstream pedestrian bridge, currently in the design stage, also reflects a contemporary approach and complements the nearby Tempe Arts Center. Pedestrian bridge rendering courtesy T.Y. Lin....

Completed: 1970; subsequent additions and renovations Architect: Michael and Kemper Goodwin Current Use: City government offices and council chambers Intended as a ‘lantern’ to the public and an example of open democracy, the unusually shaped building provides public open space at the ground level and allows the glass building walls to shade themselves (according to the architect, the structural form was conceived while observing rays of sunlight streaking across a glass shower door at a 45 degree angle). The centerpiece of the Harry E. Mitchell Government Complex, the building is a unique pyramid of solar-bronzed glass and steel inverted and placed on a podium, surrounded by a sunken garden courtyard. Prior to redevelopment, the 300-foot by 300-foot site harbored the city jail, firehouse, library, and court, all in one 1920’s building, with additional City offices in various nearby residences. Recognizing the need for new facilities, the Mayor and Council considered options for a new municipal complex in 1968. Some Councilmembers favored a site at Rural Road and Southern Avenue, reasoning that it was bigger and more centrally located. By a 4-3 vote, however, the decision was made to remain in the downtown, thus setting the example for all the redevelopment activity that was to follow over the next three decades. A library, historical museum and activity center were eventually built at Rural and Southern. The architect explains the design concept as addressing five critical requirements: 1) a “timeless architecture” that would retain its identity in a changing environment; 2) a complete respect for the Arizona sun; 3) an “open space vista” at the heart of a tight site; 4) open citizen access emphasized by a “walk-in” environment; and 5) “community integration” by having the overall plan “radiate” into the immediate surroundings. The original 55,800 square-foot construction was completed in 1970, with the 9000 square-foot west Garden Level infill completed in 1986 and the 3300 square-foot east Garden Level addition competed in 1997. Also see: www.tempe.gov/3decades/; Images, Goodwin/Sam; Landmark Buildings: Arizona’s Architectural Heritage, Patterson/Vinson....

Completed: 1912; 2006 rehabilitation Architect: L.G. Knipe; Siefer Associates (rehab) Current Use: commercial/retail Stripped of its detail and hidden beneath a stucco skin for over 50 years, the Tempe National Bank was a handsomely-detailed building constructed in 1912 in the Egyptian Revival style. The architect also designed Matthews Hall on the ASU campus. Tempe National Bank was a local institution, founded by several of Tempe’s most prominent citizens. It was acquired by the First National Bank of Arizona, and later, Wells Fargo. The structure underwent a “modernization” in 1949, totally obscuring its architectural character. Although many of the original features had been removed, an interpretive rehabilitation returned much of the 1912 character to the structure. The property is listed on the Tempe Historic Property Register. Also see: www.tempe.gov/3decades/....

Completed: 2008 Architect: Architekton / OTAK / Valley Metro / A Dye Design Current Use: light rail train facilities; office space The Tempe Transportation Center, located at Veterans Way and College Avenue at the base of Tempe Butte, includes a three-story, 40,000 sq. ft. building, an exterior shaded courtyard, and a transit plaza serving the METRO Light Rail and local and regional bus patrons. The ground floor includes retail, the transit store, security office and a bike station (with storage, repair and accessories). The second floor will include the City of Tempe Transportation Offices and a community/conference room, while the third floor houses the Transit Operations Center and additional leasable office space. The building and plaza features a variety of green building strategies, including a “green roof” and “cool pavers.” Additional light rail stations are located along the line passing through Tempe: Priest & Washington, 3rd & Mill, Rural & Terrace, Dorsey & Apache and Price & Apache. Each features shading, public art and historical information. The bridge crossing Tempe Town Lake is designed as an art element. Also see: www.tempe.gov/tim/. Transit Center renderings courtesy OTAK/Architekton....

Completed: 2001 Architect: Roberts/Jones with SmithGroup Current Use: mixed-use including: office, commercial, retail, restaurant, academic, live-work residential Tempe’s first vertically mixed-use development consists of three major components: the Brickyard Building, Artisans’ Court and the Orchid House. Organized around a central plaza, the various components share 2 levels of underground parking. Included in the 400,000+ square foot development are the 6 level office/retail/restaurant Brickyard building, with Bank of America, Border’s and Arizona State University as major tenants; the 6 level residential/office/retail/restaurant OrchidHouse building, with the City of Tempe (City Attorney, Community Design + Development, and Housing Services) as the major commercial tenant, along with nearly 100 residential “lofts”; the 2 - 3 level live/work “brownstones,” and the 2 level retail/craft Artisan Court building. Other features include orchid trees, propagated from an historic tree on the site, and a 2-story arched passageway, complete with an “atmospheric” ceiling, through the Brickyard building, connecting Mill Avenue with the central plaza and fountain. Also see: www.tempe.gov/3decades/....

Completed: 1998 Architect: Smith Group with Leo A. Daly Current Use: office / corporate headquarters The striking tower was designed with a roofline that recalls the aerodynamic section of an airplane wing. Differing elevations respond to climatic orientations and views, while the south/downtown-facing brick façade with individual windows and canopies references the historic context. The north/lake-facing steel and glass façade looks to the future of the Rio Salado project. This development replaced the former America West Corporate Offices (originally Mercado del Rio, the downtown’s first public redevelopment project). Extensive landscaping and an auto/arrival court connect the tower to Rio Salado Parkway on the north while a lush courtyard with an artist-designed fountain and seating form the connection with the parking structure to the south. Phase I, the 9-story, 230,000 square foot tower and adjoining 5 level/650-space parking structure, was completed in 1998. Future phases may include multi-story mixed-use structures along Mill Avenue and Third Street, plus an additional parking structure and courtyard. Also see: www.tempe.gov/3decades/....

Completed: 1910; later modifications Architect: Unknown Current Use: Casey Moore's Oyster House The structure, an example of transitional styling between the Victorian and classic box eras, was originally the home of William A. Moeur, a prominent Tempe citizen and brother of Governor Benjamin B. Moeur. Unusual architectural features include the bell-cast roof and concrete block quoins outlining all corners and edges. Although numerous modifications have been made, the building retains most of its original form and detailing and is listed on the Tempe Historic Property Register. The building is located in the Maple Ash Neighborhood west of Mill Avenue and South of University Drive, significant as one of the oldest surviving neighborhoods in Tempe. The area contains the largest concentration of historic resources in Tempe. Styles range from Neo-Classical to Bungalow to Ranch. Several properties are individually listed on either the National Register of Historic Places or the Tempe Historic Property Register. Also see: www.tempe.gov/historicpres/ and www.tempe.gov/museum ....