Thompson + Pollari | Curley School Live Work Artist Housing

Ajo, Arizona is located in western Pima County in a pocket of public land bounded by the Goldwater Range on the north, Cabeza Prieta Wildlife Refuge on the west, Organ Pipe National Monument on the south and the Tohono O’odham Nation on the south and east. The 6.9 acre site for the Curley School is formally positioned on axis with the Ajo Plaza to the east northeast and Ajo Mountain to the west southwest.

The historic Curley School anchors the civic plan established in 1919 for the Calumet & Arizona Mining Company’s development of the new town of Ajo. Thompson + Pollari was Architect of Record for pre-design and capital needs assessment work that that secured the ADOH tax credit financing for development of the affordable live / work artists housing project. Pre-design work by T+P included facilitation of public workshops to engage community support for the project.

The 1919/1926-28 Public School building (Building I) is on the National Historic Register as a contributing building to the National Historic District formed with the Ajo Plaza. It is the intention of the Owner to nominate four other historic buildings as contributing buildings to the District, related to the school campus development beginning with Building II - 1937, Building III - 1951, Building IV (Cafeteria) - 1951 and Building V (Gymnasium), 1940.

Key Design Concepts

Historic Rehabilitation of Lescher and Mahoney School project

Live / work housing units including 1, 2 and 3 bedroom plans

Courtyard design for balanced vehicular and pedestrian use

Re-construction of the public auditorium in Building 1

Historic window construction as economic development strategy for the town

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Curley School Live Work Artist Housing | Ajo, Arizona

Completion

Key Design Concepts

Recognition