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MoPho Gem Pulls Record Price

By: Cathleen Collins
March 24th, 2007
Category: Architects,Going Vertical

As I mentioned the other day, Modern Phoenix is holding its 3rd Annual Modern Phoenix Expo this weekend. I hope you were more successful than I finding the time to enjoy the seminars today. Maybe better luck for me tomorrow…

Speaking of the distinctive MoPho style, did you notice the sale, reported in today’s Arizona Republic, of Chase Tower for $166.9 million?

The state’s tallest building sold this month for the highest price ever paid for an office building in metropolitan Phoenix.


This beautiful, shiny skyscraper, originally home to Valley National Bank, was built in the early ’70s, but the idea of the tower, meant to revitalize downtown Phoenix, had been envisioned for a decade before it was built.

Valley Bank Center was designed by important mid-Century modern architect, William Becket. Becket is well known for his influence on commercial LA buildings, including the Capital Records Building and Cinerama Dome. I’m personally glad that the grand building he brought to our town is one of soaring, sleek elegance rather than kitsch. Whatever flavor of Modern Phoenix you prefer, here is a building that surely makes you proud of our downtown.

A fun side-note for Modern aficionados is this reflection I found in Matt Hinrichs’ Scrubbles.net archives:

Wednesday, July 19, 2000
This is strange – from the August 1973 issue of Phoenix magazine, concept sketches of a nightclub in downtown Phoenix’s newest hotspot, the Valley Bank Center (now the Bank One building). “The Prime Interest, located at the concourse level, will feature a cocktail lounge and separate dining/dancing area.” A veritable swingers’ paradise, I’m sure. Of course, it may have never looked this exciting. When I first went there in the mid-’90s, the Eero Saarinen tables and chairs were all that remained – and they were gone within two years. The mirrored ceiling is a nice touch; very Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice.

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