The Security Building is a building in downtown

Phoenix, Arizona Phoenix ( ; nv, Hoozdo; es, Fénix or , yuf-x-wal, Banyà:nyuwá) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of cities and towns in Arizona#List of cities and towns, most populous city of the U.S. state of Arizona, with 1 ...

, completed in 1928 and listed on the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic v ...

in 1985.

History

The Security Building was constructed for the Security Improvement Company, whose President was prominent Phoenix realtor

Dwight B. Heard Dwight B. Heard (1 May 1869 – 14 Mar 1929) was an American rancher in Arizona, along with the president of the Arizona Cotton Association. He is famous for publishing the ''Arizona Republican'', now ''The Arizona Republic'', from 1912 to 1929. ...

. 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 Republic ''The Arizona Republic'' is an American daily newspaper published in Phoenix. Circulated throughout Arizona, it is the state's largest newspaper. Since 2000, it has been owned by the Gannett newspaper chain. Copies are sold at $2 daily or at $3 ...

an'' 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 Valley National Bank of Arizona was a bank based in Phoenix, Arizona, founded in 1900 and acquired by Bank One in 1992. The bank was one of Arizona's leading financial institutions during the 20th century and the last major independent bank in Ar ...

. In 2001,

Maricopa County Maricopa County is in the south-central part of the U.S. state of Arizona. As of the 2020 census, the population was 4,420,568, making it the state's most populous county, and the fourth-most populous in the United States. It contains about 6 ...

acquired the property, and historical renovations began in 2005 to restore the building. The Security Building currently houses county offices; the

Arizona State University Arizona State University (Arizona State or ASU) is a public research university in the Phoenix metropolitan area. Founded in 1885 by the 13th Arizona Territorial Legislature, ASU is one of the largest public universities by enrollment in the ...

Phoenix Urban Research Laboratory occupied the former penthouse until May 2012.
Phoenix New Times, March 2012

Architecture

The building was designed by Claud Beelman, Curlett & Beelman, with regional contractors Edwards, Wildey and Dixon constructing the building. The Security Building is an example of Second

Renaissance Revival architecture Renaissance Revival architecture (sometimes referred to as "Neo-Renaissance") is a group of 19th century architectural revival styles which were neither Greek Revival nor Gothic Revival but which instead drew inspiration from a wide range o ...

, 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.

References

{{Maricopa County, Arizona Office buildings in Phoenix, Arizona Office buildings on the National Register of Historic Places in Arizona National Register of Historic Places in Phoenix, Arizona Arizona State University buildings Second Renaissance Revival architecture Renaissance Revival architecture in Arizona Office buildings completed in 1928