San Xavier District Administrative Headquarters

Tucson, AZ

Mason Contractor: Mississippi Lime
Architect: BWS Architects
General Contractor: W.E. O'Neil Construction
Suppliers: Upstate Masonry Institute
Owner: San Xavier District of the Tohono Oogham Nation

Wall System: Single Wythe: Reinforced Concrete Block

Project Description

Located just steps away from southern Arizona’s most well-known building, the San Xavier Mission, this LEED Gold Certified facility houses 13 administrative departments, historic archives, conference and training spaces, artifact display areas, warehouse, and a council chamber. The use of integrally colored concrete masonry was important in addressing the complex issue of providing the District with its own aesthetic, while representing the San Xavier Mission’s image and its importance to the community and the region. The goal was to allow the bright white mission to stand out in contrast to the landscape while the new District Administration recedes into the background. Concrete masonry units form the basis of the building’s structural system and provide us with both an exterior and an interior finish, truly creating a strong connection between indoors and outdoors. Masonry units were also used to subtly develop original animal forms, basket weaving patterns, and abstract designs representing animal tracks on the interior and exterior wall surfaces. Masonry was the ideal material for this project, where we wanted the building to appear as if it belongs to the site.

Date of Project Completion: December 2012

Awards

Excellence in Masonry Architectural Awards - Citation Award, Non-Residential, 2014

Photography by Bill Timmerman Photography