67/100... building a story

Buildings tell a story about their city. The architecture, location and purpose of the building contribute to the plot line. The people who commission the building, build it and live or work in it are the characters. Each story is as unique as the building telling it. This is the story of the Luhrs Building and the adjacent Luhrs Tower (#67 on my "100 Things in Arizona" list) in downtown Phoenix, Arizona.

George H. N. Luhrs, a German immigrant, established a wagon-making business in the Arizona Territory near Wickenburg in 1869. After moving to Phoenix in 1878 and establishing a business partnership with Nowell Herrick in 1881, Luhrs married Catharina Dodenhoff, a native of his hometown in Germany, in 1884.

Luhrs and Herrick purchased several parcels of prime real estate in Phoenix, a rapidly growing city. An astute businessman as well as a visionary citizen, Luhrs built the Luhrs Hotel (originally known as the Commercial Hotel) in 1887. George and Catharina managed the hotel, eventually moving into it after Herrick and Luhrs parted ways in 1890.

Phoenix was a prosperous and rapidly growing town at the turn of the 20th century. Its population grew from just over 5500 people in 1900 to well over 29,000 in 1920. And Luhrs was ready to build. He believed the small town in the desert that "sprang up from the ashes" would eventually be a bustling metropolis- and he wanted to help make it so.

The Luhrs Building

11 W. Jefferson  Phoenix, Arizona

The Luhrs Building opened in April, 1924 and was a sight to see! At ten-stories tall and a cost of $553,000, it was, and still is, a magnificent building with the distinction of being Phoenix's first high-rise! The Arizona Club (an exclusive social dining club), complete with several dining rooms, lounges, a library and bedrooms for members, was located in the top four floors. The remaining floors were leased as office space.

Signs and advertisements now "decorate" this historic building- not a sign of progress, in my opinion.

The Arizona Club moved out of the Luhrs Building in 1971 and the upper floors were reconfigured into office space. Today, the lobby is utilitarian with minimal furnishings. I tried to imagine it as it was in the mid-1900's but it was difficult with so much chrome and glass staring me in the face. 

The mailbox in the lobby is the only reminder of the building's early history.

Five years after the Luhrs Building opened, the Luhrs Tower was built right next door. George Luhrs died just two months after the groundbreaking and his son, George H.N. Luhrs, Jr. took over the family business. 

At 14-stories (185 feet), the Luhr's Tower was an impressive building in 1929. Although it was never the tallest building in Phoenix - the Westward Ho, at 16-stories (208 feet) had that honor - it is credited by some as being the city's first "skyscraper" while others contend that the Westward Ho deserves that honor. And that begs the question: What is the difference between a "high-rise" and a "skyscraper?"

Apparently there is no easy answer to that and engineering/architecture-types have been arguing about it for centuries. Most everyone agrees that a "skyscraper" is a building of "exceptional" height over 12-stories. The difference of opinion relates to the building's use. Some believe ANY building that meets the height requirement qualifies as a "skyscraper" while others believe that skyscrapers are for commercial use only. High-rises need to be of "considerable" height and can be used for either commercial or residential (including hotels) use.

The Westward Ho, formerly known as the Roosevelt Hotel, was built in 1927 and was used primarily as a hotel until its closure in 1980. It also housed a couple of restaurants and a few offices. After its closing, the new owners remodeled the building into subsidized housing for the elderly and mobility-impaired and it currently houses 320 residents. It has never been a strictly commercial building which is why many maintain that the Luhrs Tower is Phoenix's (and Arizona's) first skyscraper despite the Westward Ho being taller and built two years earlier. 

The Luhrs Tower

45 W. Jefferson  Phoenix, Arizona

The Art Deco architecture of the Luhrs Tower is distinctive, setting it apart from other downtown buildings. Art Deco architecture with its sleek lines, geometric shapes and dramatic presence came into vogue during the Roaring Twenties. They were the buildings of the future. The discovery of King Tut's tomb in Egypt influenced Art Deco architecture as symbolic images were worked into the buildings as well as gilding. 

Unlike the Luhrs Building next door, the interior of the Luhrs Tower is quite beautiful and rich with history. Marble and gilding are abundant. And while the elevator "innards" may have been updated and/or replaced, the exterior doors look original. My personal favorite thing in the lobby is the old-fashioned clock-faced floor indicator above the elevators- not a modern digital indicator! And no 13th floor! Walking into the lobby was like stepping back in time.

My second favorite thing in the lobby is the directory. A vast majority of the offices belong to attorneys,  private investigators and bail bondsmen - not surprising when you realize that there are more than a half dozen courts covering four jurisdictions within a mile of the building!

George H. N. Luhrs, Sr. had a vision for Phoenix and desperately wanted to be a part of it. Some of his buildings are not just standing, but are still a vital part of downtown almost a century later. He was absolutely correct that Phoenix would one day be a bustling metropolis. Today there are more than 1.4 million people in Phoenix. In fact, it is the sixth most populous city in the United States. 

Today's high-rises and skyscrapers physically dwarf the Luhr's Building seen in the background but it and the Luhrs Tower continue to be great buildings! And, just so you know, the tallest building in Phoenix (and Arizona) today is the Chase Tower with 40-stories (483 feet)!

We had a great time exploring a couple of Phoenix's heroes of old. 

Thumb Up or Down: Up!

Miles Round Trip: 42.6 miles

Miles To Date: 7514.2 miles

Percent of List Completed: 67%

Date of This Trip: July 20, 2012