Phoenix history: Flame-inspired precast concrete panels ignite a rescue operation

Corrections & Clarifications: An earlier version of this article gave an incorrect year for the 180 Degrees Design + Build project.

Having an affinity for Phoenix’s impressive mid-century architecture comes easily for many in the construction industry. But preserving this unique heritage requires a tad more passion, especially when the task requires moving 325,000 pounds of delicate precast concrete from the Arizona Public Service administrative building in Deer Valley.

Fortunately, the firm that took on the task had both the enthusiasm for architectural panels and a skilled crew capable of salvaging them: 180 Degrees Design + Build. James Trahan, AIA, principal and partner, states, “Our work not only kept some of Phoenix’s irreplaceable mid-century architectural heritage out of a landfill but provides our company the opportunity to reuse them in new projects around the Valley.”

The APS building’s panels were attached to the exterior and used to shade the entire glass façade, including an entry walkway. The panels feature flame and lightning motifs, appropriate for a power company, and were designed by architect Fred Guirey.

Since being installed in 1961, several panels over the walkway had developed hairline cracks, making them a safety hazard. With safety in mind, APS had those panels removed. When the company decided to renovate the building, they found that replicating the damaged panels would be prohibitively expensive.

"They decided to create an aluminum composite on the exterior instead of new precast panels," Trahan says. Unfortunately, the remaining precast concrete panels became expendable.

Alison King, the founder of ModernPhoenix.net, was the first to hear of the panels' fate in 2021. Ryan Ferguson of McCarthy Building Companies, a local builder on the project, recognized their significance and reached out to see if there was any interest in re-use.

"It's not uncommon for Modern Phoenix to be contacted by total strangers interested in saving Modern cultural resources," says King. "But when I heard about the scope of the screen removal and wrapped my head around how heavy and technical the screens would be to remove, I had to think about who could step in and coordinate such a large-scale rescue."

King had to act quickly, as removal was imminent. She scrolled through the Modern Rolodex in her mind. "I called 180 Degrees Design + Build first for their skill in historic preservation. They had the specialized workforce, equipment, and vehicles for dismantling and storing literally 325,000 pounds of material skillfully," says King.

“She’s the most knowledgeable person about mid-century architecture in Phoenix,” Trahan says. Trahan then contacted David Ramirez, an APS Project Manager for APS Facilities Design & Construction, about salvaging the panels, and told him, “We’ll take as many as you don’t want!”

In the end, 180 Degrees Design + Build collected 95 panels, each weighing 3,800 pounds, while APS retained around 20 panels for use around their building. The project, which occurred in October 2021, went smoothly, according to Trahan.

"Evan Emery and Mikhail Gladchenko led the charge along with Casey Fowler and Jesus Carillo of 180, running a smooth snatch and grab," he says. "We craned the panels off and layered them on a flatbed truck, and they're safely stored awaiting their next life."

Desert Services coordinated the removal of the panels from the building, and Marco Crane & Rigging provided their expertise and experience. Ramirez's coordination from the APS side was key to this venture's success.

So, what's 180 Degrees going to do with this treasure trove of mid-century precast concrete? "We have 56 panels reallocated for use on three separate projects and are actively seeking homes for the remaining 39 panels," Trahan says. "We hope to utilize the others in future jobs, but if others have any projects that these might be a good fit for, please reach out to me."

Asked what it was like to preserve 165 tons of mid-century heritage, Trahan says, "It was an expensive operation even though the panels were free." Trahan has served on the Rio Salado Architecture Foundation's Archives Committee for years. Typically, the committee conserves and archives architectural drawings of prominent Arizona architects, but these panels were entirely different in scale. The mission, however, was the same, to salvage our architectural heritage at any expense.

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Douglas C. Towne is the editor of Arizona Contractor & Community magazine, http://www.arizcc.com/.  

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Flame-inspired precast concrete panels ignite a rescue operation