Area less than one acre MPS Phoenix Commercial MRA Opened 1928 | Built 1928 (1928) NRHP Reference # 85002081 Added to NRHP 12 September 1985 | |
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Location 234 N. Central Avenue, Phoenix, Arizona Architectural style Second Renaissance Revival Architects Claud Beelman, William and Alexander Curlett Similar Luhrs Tower, Luhrs Building, Hotel Westward Ho, Heard Building, Professional Building | ||
The Security Building is a building in downtown Phoenix, Arizona, completed in 1928 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985.
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History
The Security Building was constructed for the Security Improvement Company, whose President was prominent Phoenix realtor Dwight B. Heard. From 1897 until his 1929 death, Heard was one of the most powerful men in the state, owning an investment company, a cattle company, and the Arizona Republican newspaper. The building would serve as a headquarters for produce growers and law firms over the years.
In 1958, the ninth-floor penthouse apartment was added, serving as the home of Walter R. Bimson, the chairman of the successful Valley National Bank of Arizona.
In 2001, Maricopa County acquired the property, and historical renovations began in 2005 to restore the building. The Security Building currently houses county offices; the Arizona State University Phoenix Urban Research Laboratory occupied the former penthouse until May 2012.
Architecture
The building was designed by Curlett & Beelman, with regional contractors Edwards, Wildey and Dixon constructing the building. The Security Building is an example of Second Renaissance Revival architecture, using copper and hand-molded bricks. The structure uses reinforced concrete, while the interior includes marble floors and walls, as well as brass elevator doors.