An Odd Memory

 

An odd memory popped into my head yesterday.  I had just reached for a can of Coke when I had a sudden memory of the old Coca-Cola bottling plant that was located in my home town of Quincy Illinois.  I could remember seeing the conveyor belt full of bottles through the big windows in front of the building.  That memory got me to wondering if the building was still there.  I did some research and found that it was still standing and is now listed on the National Register of Historic places. Coca-Cola moved out of the building years ago but the building now houses offices.  It was good to learn that this old Art Deco style industrial building was still there.

The building was built in 1940 and the terra cotta decorations on the front and corners are still there.  In the center is the Coca-Cola emblem.

On each corner is a terra cotta inlay of a Coke bottle.  

I looked through my photos from Quincy and couldn't find any of this building so I scavenged these photos from the internet.  Older buildings are so easily destroyed these days, it was good to learn that this one still exists and is in use.  

That was a fun trip down memory lane.

Night at the Opera

 

I was in downtown Phoenix Saturday evening for the season opening performance of the Arizona Opera Company.  They did a wonderful job with "Madam Butterfly", a classic opera with an inevitable dramatically sad ending.  At intermission I stepped out onto the Symphony Hall patio where there is a great view of some of the Phoenix Convention Center buildings all lit up at night.  My Uber driver told me that there are two very large conferences starting this week in downtown Phoenix so I'm guessing this area will be hopping with activity.

Facing the other way, I saw one of the Symphony Hall chandeliers framed perfectly in that tall, narrow window.

Here's what they look like inside the hall.  

In Honor of the Roadrunner

 

There is a brand new set of Apartments on McDowell Road in Scottsdale called Roadrunner on McDowell.  The last time I drove past them I notice that there was a giant mural on one wall depicting a desert scene and a single roadrunner studying the situation.  I didn't see a signature so I don't know who the artist is.  It's a nice addition to the the otherwise 'brown' walls of the building.  

Taking part in Monday Murals.

Holiday Cheer in an Empty Building

 

I met friends for dinner last Sunday evening at a place right across the street from this former office building being converted to condos.  The last time I posted about this building was in July.

I saw that Christmas Tree in one of the windows and I thought someone had moved into one of the condos.  But, I was wrong.

As I was leaving, I saw another Christmas Tree on the other side of the building and I realized, it was set up in an empty room.  Probably an attempt by the property owners to make the building look a bit festive and desirable during this season.

The first time I posted about this building being converted to condos was back in 2020 when I rather optimistically said that people would be living there soon.  It's now over five years later and it looks like they are still working on this building.

Not Ready Yet

 

That office building turned condos, is still not quite ready for occupancy.  It's taking a long time to complete this conversion.  The last time I pictured it was in July of last year when I thought it was almost ready.

Here is what the building looked like before all this work started.  It's undergoing quite a dramatic change.  This photo is from 2014.  

Standing Alone

 

This is a building in east Phoenix that I just don't get.  It's a lone high-rise building in a part of town with no tall buildings.  It was built in 1986 but I couldn't find any information on its original tenant or use.  Today it is an office building housing a number of different tenants.  It's advertised as a great location only 7 minutes from Sky Harbor International Airport.  So I guess if your business requires a lot of travel, it might be a good location.

I found this photo on the leasing company's site.  You can tell from this photo that the building stands above all the other local buildings.  There isn't much in this area over 4 floors high.  This photo also has a great view of Camelback Mountain in the background.

The Governor

 

I discovered some new apartments near downtown Phoenix and the building has this huge mural of Governor George W.P. Hunt, the first governor of the state of Arizona.

I did some online searching for the artist but I had no luck.

The new apartments are on McDowell Road at about 17th Street and they are called "The Governor".  

Governor Hunt has a very unique tomb that I featured back in 2011.  It's a pyramid.  If you look at that post you will learn a few more facts about this colorful man and his unique tomb.

Taking part in Monday Murals. 

A Brain Full of Broken Glass

 

I saw this brain shaped sculpture on a wall in front of a new building in Scottsdale and I had to stop to see what it was all about.  It turns out to be a public art piece commissioned by the city for a new building.

The building houses the Bob Bove' Neurosciences Institute.  It's located in an area of Scottsdale full of medical buildings and the Scottsdale Osborn Medical Center.  The building is nice looking but just driving  past, I couldn't figure out what the raised area was all about.  Now I know.  According to the plaque near the "brain", that entire wall was created by Kevin S Berry specifically for this building.  It's called "Stream of Consciousness", 

Is This a Mural?

 I discovered this interesting paint job on the side of building being used as a business office.  I couldn't locate a signature and I'm not even sure it should be called a mural.  Do you think it's a mural or just a fancy paint job?

Taking part in Monday Murals.

Something New

 

Just a block away from the main library on Central Avenue I discovered these brand new apartments.  Two buildings on either side of the street with a bridge to connect the two.  Such an unusual feature for the Phoenix area.  It caught my eye immediately.  

A Sign From the Past

 

I parked near this building to make a quick run into a drug store.  I've been near this building many times but this was the first time I noticed the white eagle emblem on the side of the building.

I recognized that emblem immediately but it took a moment for me realize it was actually from the past.  The building houses a branch of Chase Bank but many years ago it was a local bank called Valley National Bank.  That eagle over the octagon was the trademark for Valley National Bank.  That bank was merged into Chase Bank back in the 90's.  I was so used to seeing those 'eagles' that it never registered that they represent a different bank altogether.

Productive Way to Kill Time

I had my monthly appointment with the chiropractor on Thursday afternoon only I totally forgot that the time had been changed.  I arrived 40 minutes early.  So, to kill some time, I wandered around the parking area looking for things to photograph.  I concentrated on the planters full of red, white and pink geraniums. I took a few shots but wasn't happy with them because the light wasn't right.  

Then I turned around and looked up at the building and saw those clouds reflected in the glass.  The unusual thing was that the sky above the building was mostly clear.  I found my shot!

Those clouds gathered together while I was inside and then sprinkled on me on my way home. A light sprinkle of rain that was hardly noticeable except for the drops on the windshield.  

Cruising Central Avenue

 

My friend was driving as we left the Heard Museum last weekend so I took the opportunity to snap a couple of photos right through the windshield as we drove up Central Avenue. Traffic was very light as you can see.

The photos turned out better than I expected so I decided to post them.  It was a pretty day with blue sky and sunshine.  Both of these were taken in the "midtown" area of Phoenix where quite a few tall buildings frame the street and the light rail tracks run down the middle of the street (left in this shot).  The tinting on the windshield shows up at the top of these photos.

New Multi-Housing Units

 

I recently spotted two new multi-housing units near downtown Phoenix.  This one is called Monroe Gardens and it has an attractive look with all that brick. 

I didn't see a name on this one but it also is appealing to look at.  I like all those balconies.  That would be a must for me.  I love my balcony. I like stepping outside several times a day and enjoying the fresh air and the view.

Both of these places are within walking distance of shops, restaurants, museums and theaters.  That is another advantage.

New Housing Options

 

I recently found two more in-fill housing complexes squeezed in between single the family homes around them.  These appear to be units above a two-car garage.  They have a nice urban look.

These have a more traditional look.  They look like they might be three stories high.  That would probably be too many stairs for me but I'm sure they would appeal to a lot of first time buyers.  

One of Those Things....

 

....that caught my eye.  

When I was out taking photos of architectural gems, I happened to come across this building.  This is a view from the side of the building.  The front of the building is rather ordinary but from this side, it has charm in composition and symmetry.  

I love finding little gems like this.

Another Beadle Building

 

This is another Al Beadle building.  I missed it on that day I drove around looking for his buildings.  I happened to be in the neighborhood a few days ago so I finally got the photos.

This one is an office building built up on a platform with the space below open.  The interesting thing I learned about this one is about those diagonal windows.  This is the only one of his buildings with that type a window.  I learned that he was aware that the city would never bury the power lines (seen all the way to the right).  He decided to incorporate the angle of the guylines anchoring the huge power pole into the building's design.  Unfortunately when I took this photo, I failed to get those lines in the shot.

However, I found a photo on line.  Those lines match the line of the windows perfectly.  Very clever!

State Farm Headquarters From Above

 

When I pulled out the "bridges" photo from yesterday's post, I saw this one taken just seconds before the one with the bridges.  This one was taken as we passed over the State Farm Headquarters office complex.  I posted several photographs form this spot back in 2019.  It's a great place to take photos because those buildings are all glass so they have great reflective quality along with a few interesting architectural details.  You can see one of those posts here.  The buildings don't have the same pizazz from above as they do on the ground.  

By the way, you can also see the Arizona State University football stadium just above the State Farm office complex.  Also, way at the top of the photo and slightly to the right you can see the round Gammage Auditorium.  That's the famous Frank Lloyd Wright designed building that I last featured here.

With the exception of the State Farm buildings in the foreground, most of the rest of the buildings in this photo belong to the university.  It's a BIG campus.  

More Unusual Architecture

 

This is another building I photographed on the day I was looking for Beadle architecture.  I stopped at this place because the Modern Phoenix website listed it as one where the architect is unknown.  This is a bowling alley that has been at this location as long as I've lived in Arizona.  The ownership has changed a few times but it remains a bowling alley.

The architecture is a bit crazy with those soaring rooflines.  It's a shame that we can't give the true architect credit for this very distinctive style.  

Eye-Catching Discovery

 

On the day I was out looking for the different Beadle structures, I happened to find this building. It's located in the midtown area of Phoenix and appears to be an old office building that has been converted into apartments.  To be honest, I wasn't sure what they were until I searched the name.  It appears they are loft-like apartments with open, industrial-style ceilings.  Not something I would want but the outside is certainly eye-catching.