HISTORY

The 1931 Phoenix Title and Trust Building, 114 West Adams Street, was originally constructed to accommodate a bank and retail shops at street level, with commercial offices on the upper floors. At the time of its construction it was the largest office building in the State of Arizona.

The 11-story concrete and brick masonry structure housed a large light court above the main banking hall entrance on North First Avenue. Exterior details in brick, stone, granite and terra cotta decorate the structure and the original steel frame windows survive throughout the building.

The elevator lobby entrance faces West Adams Street and is marked with a metal and glass canopy and decorative terra cotta panels. The interior of the main elevator lobby is adorned with decorative metal details including package and mail drop boxes, a building directory, stair rail, elevator doors, display windows, stamped metal doors, doorframes and baseboards. It features remarkable floors, walls and a staircase in a variety of fine marble and terrazzo. There are also plaster, lighting and etched glass details, including a series of small decorative panels depicting the history of Arizona. The main ornamental element is the classic Art Deco "fern fiddlehead" form. From the standpoint of material and design, the lobby is commensurate with the best examples of the Art Deco style nationally.