Arrington Watkins was hired to renovate the Santa Fe Freight Depot, a historic rail depot in downtown Phoenix, for use as offices for the Maricopa County Assessor’s Office. The 15,000 SF depot, which sat abandoned for decades, was completely modernized to be an ADA-compliant workspace for over 70 employees. Utilizing the original 1925 drawings, Arrington Watkins sought to preserve the building’s exterior, which is on Phoenix’s historical register, while updating the interior for modern use. Special attention was given to preserving the unique history of the building by incorporating railroad details into the decor. The $4 million facility opened in 2011, and has received LEED Silver certification.

AWARDED: 2011 Crescordia Award for Environmental Excellence | 2011 ENR Best Project of Year – Award of Merit for Best Renovation/Restoration