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| Westward Ho (Phoenix) | |
|---|---|
| Name | Westward Ho |
| Location | Phoenix, Arizona, United States |
| Built | 1927–1928 |
| Architect | Lescher & Mahoney |
| Architecture | Spanish Colonial Revival architecture; Art Deco |
| Added | 1985 |
Westward Ho (Phoenix) is a historic high-rise hotel and apartment complex in downtown Phoenix, Arizona, notable for its role in the city’s rapid 20th-century growth, hospitality industry, and urban renewal efforts. Designed by noted regional firm Lescher & Mahoney and developed by entrepreneur Wirt G. Bowman, the building interacts with downtown landmarks and institutions and has been the subject of preservation debates involving municipal agencies, heritage groups, and private developers.
Constructed during the late 1920s real-estate expansion that included developments near Central Avenue (Phoenix) and the Maricopa County Courthouse, the project was financed amid speculation tied to the Arizona Biltmore Hotel boom and the broader Roaring Twenties urbanization trend. The developer, Wirt G. Bowman, collaborated with architects Lescher & Mahoney and contractors who had worked on projects with the Heard Museum and local Chamber of Commerce. Opening in 1928, the property competed with contemporaries such as the Luhrs Building, the Benedict Hotel (Phoenix), and the Arizona Hotel (Phoenix), attracting guests linked to Arizona State University events and political visitors to the Arizona State Capitol.
During the Great Depression, the complex weathered financial pressure that affected holdings like the Orpheum Theatre (Phoenix) and properties owned by the National Bank of Arizona. Mid-century transformations in downtown Phoenix—paralleling projects like the Washington Street Urban Renewal Project and the construction of Interstate 10 in Arizona—shifted demand toward suburban resorts such as the Biltmore Fashion Park area, affecting occupancy. In the 1970s and 1980s, ownership transfers involved entities related to Phoenix Historic Property Company and investors comparable to those behind restorations at the Herberger Theater Center and Monroe Street Market.
The structure blends Spanish Colonial Revival architecture motifs with Art Deco detailing, echoing stylistic elements found in the Arizona Biltmore Hotel and regional works by architects influenced by Frank Lloyd Wright and John S. Mills. The facade features terracotta ornamentation, colored tilework, and pilasters that parallel treatments on the Luhrs Building and the Hotel Adams (Phoenix). Interior public spaces originally included a lobby with decorative plasterwork, mezzanine lounges, and rooftop amenities reminiscent of urban hotels such as the New Yorker Hotel and the Biltmore Hotel (Los Angeles) influence on southwestern practice.
Structural systems used reinforced concrete and steel framing consistent with contemporary high-rise techniques employed by firms that designed the Theron Fletcher Building and the Hanny's Building (Phoenix). Decorative programs incorporated craftsmen linked to the Heard Museum and suppliers who worked on civic projects including the Phoenix Civic Center and the Arizona State Fairgrounds.
Preservation efforts have involved cooperation among local agencies like the Phoenix Historic Preservation Commission, nonprofit organizations similar to the Arizona Preservation Foundation, and private developers experienced with adaptive reuse projects such as the conversion of the Luhrs Tower and the Orpheum Theatre (Phoenix). Designation discussions referenced criteria used by the National Register of Historic Places and consulted precedents from restorations at the Montezuma Castle National Monument administration buildings.
Restoration work addressed issues common to early 20th-century masonry buildings—seismic retrofitting techniques paralleling interventions at the Hamilton Theater (Syracuse) and moisture control strategies used at the Pioneer Hotel (Flagstaff). Funding models drew on tax incentives similar to those in the Federal Historic Preservation Tax Incentives program and municipal grants administered by the City of Phoenix. Preservationists compared outcomes to rehabilitations of the Luhrs Building and the Hotel San Carlos to balance historical integrity with modern mechanical, electrical, and accessibility standards influenced by Americans with Disabilities Act compliance frameworks.
Over its history the building hosted a mix of hospitality, residential, and commercial tenants including downtown retailers, professional offices, and hospitality operators akin to Hilton Hotels & Resorts franchises and independent proprietors who managed venues like the Hotel San Carlos. Notable occupants and associated events included civic gatherings linked to the Phoenix Symphony and meetings for organizations such as the Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce and the Arizona Restaurant Association.
Transient uses mirrored downtown trends: short-term stays for visitors to the Arizona State University Downtown Phoenix campus, long-term residential conversions that paralleled projects at the Luhrs Building and the Security Building (Phoenix), and film shoots similar to productions staged at the Orpheum Theatre (Phoenix)]. Conference functions served delegations connected to the Arizona Legislature and conventions hosted at proximate venues including the Phoenix Convention Center.
The building became a symbol in narratives about Phoenix’s urban identity, featuring in photographic surveys by local historians associated with the Arizona Historical Society and in academic work from scholars tied to Arizona State University. It appears in cultural representations alongside sites like the Arizona State Fair and the Phoenix Art Museum, and has been cited in preservation advocacy that references successes at the Monterey (Phoenix) and restorations of the Hotel San Carlos.
The complex influenced downtown redevelopment policy debates involving officials from the Office of Mayor of Phoenix and planners at the Maricopa Association of Governments, serving as a case study in adaptive reuse curricula at institutions such as the University of Arizona and Northern Arizona University. Its legacy is reflected in walking tours coordinated by groups like the Heritage Square Foundation and in guidebooks produced by the Phoenix Public Library local history division.
Situated on Central Avenue (Phoenix), the property occupies a block proximate to landmarks including the Arizona State Capitol, the Phoenix Convention Center, and the Heritage Square (Phoenix). Accessibility connects to transit services operated by the Valley Metro Rail and bus routes managed by Valley Metro (Arizona), with nearby freeway access via Interstate 10 in Arizona and proximity to Sky Harbor International Airport. Pedestrian and bicycle initiatives in downtown Phoenix, led by planning groups associated with the Downtown Phoenix Partnership, have integrated the area into multimodal corridors connecting cultural sites like the Phoenix Art Museum and civic nodes such as the Orpheum Theatre (Phoenix).
Category:Buildings and structures in Phoenix, Arizona