The Arizona Department of Transportation project will be a new 10,800 square-foot facility that consolidates the numerous functions of registration, titling, and licensing under one roof.

This one stop-shopping program required the design to be legible and usable while fitting on a tight and constrained site. Just as the road displays its signs and symbols to guide and inform us, so does this building provide the same clarity of function.

The structure is reminiscent of a Victorian train station, and has an arch-trussed roof supported by masonry bearing walls. Freestanding light banks relieve the roof plane of any fixtures, and provide intimate lighting for counter transactions. The eastern and northern facades frame the stunning desert environment, and use reflected light off the entry billboard to illuminate the interior.

Endowed with a playful, lighthearted atmosphere, this project endeavors to raise the spirits of its users to avoid a dreary, pressured experience.

location
Tucson, Arizona

client/owner
Arizona Department of Transportation

square footage
10,800 sf

completion date
unbuilt

awards

1996
AIA Arizona Design Competition
Merit Award