This house for a single guy in his mid 30’s draws upon the slick and cool ideal of a modern bachelor pad. Set on the edge of an older neighborhood near the University of Arizona, the concept creates indoor, outdoor living that makes the best of a small site and tight budget.

Constrained by formidable setbacks for a small lot, this home went vertical and down below grade to maximize the use of the site. Two insulated masonry walls define the enclosure east and west with floor to ceiling glass at the north and south facing rooms. A large canopy cantilevers out to the south to shade the interior from the harsh desert sun while establishing an edge for the southern courtyard.

Designed as a loft, the interior emphasizes light and space over décor. Detail is relegated to functional components- stair, railing, cabinetry and the juncture of dissimilar materials. Clean geometry defines both vertical and horizontal surfaces to create a tranquil setting for life along a busy street.

Passive solar in plan and section, the house also captures all rainwater on the roof in a sculptural steel pipe gutter that will spill into a 1000 gallon storage tank to be re-used for courtyard planting.

location
Tucson, Arizona

client/owner
Greg Puhler

contractor
Repp Construction, Inc

area
1,600 sf

completion date
2002

awards

2004
AIA Southern Arizona Chapter
Merit Award

2002
AIA Southern Arizona Chapter
Design Excellence Award
Home of the Year 2002

Home to one of Tucson’s ice manufacturing plants until it closed permanently in 2002, the Ice House Lofts are 51 distinctive residences located in the 1923 Arizona Ice and Cold Storage Company building. The design preserves the authentic industrial character of the existing building’s exterior shell while simultaneously infusing it with new life in the provision of 48 modern residential units. An additional three units are provided in the form of a new triangular-shaped building along with a pool house and a storage building for tenants.

Adaptive re-use of an abandoned building for housing fosters a ‘smart growth’ model of development that meets the needs of those with a desire to live in the city while saving an old building and neighborhood from neglect. Materials reclaimed from the interior of the old building gain new life as courtyard and pool fencing while equipment used in the ice making process are sandblasted and re-displayed as entry markers for the project. New exterior architectural elements such as balconies and shading devices are detailed in a manner which purposely contrasts the old with the new. In doing this, the scale normally associated with industrial architecture is broken down and is made both humane and usable for its occupants.

The project required close collaboration with city officials, consultants and contractors. From the re-zoning of the property to assistance with marketing potential we worked hand in hand with and as part of the Development Team to create a successful award winning project. The success of the project has given other developers courage to take on other inner city development projects as Tucson seeks to re-define and re-build its downtown.

Please visit the Ice House Lofts website for more information.

location
Tucson, Arizona

client/owner
Deep Freeze Development LLC

design team
John Folan Architect, LLC associate architect
Thomas Cattany, AIA architectural consultant
Chris Winters & Associates landscape architect

contractor
CaliberWest LLC

area
73,253 sf

completion date
May 2005

photographer
© Bradley Wheeler – ItaliaFocus.com

awards
2006
Sonoran Institute Building
Building from the Best Awards
Creative Reuse and Rehabilitation

2005
AIA Western Mountain Region
Merit Award

Barrio Metalico is a small community of nine freestanding houses set within the industrial and residential neighborhood of Millville, east of downtown Tucson, Arizona. Initially conceived as a speculative project to enhance the neighborhood in anticipation of the adjacent 51 unit conversion of a 1923 Ice and Cold Storage the Metalico homes quickly took on their own personality and feel.

The conceptual approach for this project was to not shy away from its mixed industrial environment but rather, to embrace it. The exterior skin of each Metalico unit is corrugated metal with a galvalume finish. An existing adobe structure that once provided housing for factory workers in the early 1900s has been adaptively reused as perimeter site walls along with distressed wood and corrugated metal salvaged from a demolished building on a neighboring site. Rainwater harvesting with metal culvert tanks and super-insulated wall systems round out this award winning modern infill village.

location
Tucson, Arizona

client/owner
Fremont Partners One, LLC

contractor
CaliberWest LLC

area
9 units @ 1570 sf each

completion date
June 2004

awards
2006
Residential Architect Design Awards
Single Family Production Housing
Grand Prize

Sonoran Institute Building
Building from the Best Awards
Urban Development/Infill

2005
AIA Western Mountain Region
Citation Award

2004
Design Excellence Citation
Home of the Year 2004

Located in the center of Tucson, this 22 unit town loft project defines community living with proximity to shopping, restaurants and the nearby University. Built on the former site of a mobile home park on one side of Third Street and over a dilapidated duplex on the other side, Indigo Modern re-builds an important infill location with energy efficient design that makes efficient use of indoor and outdoor space.

Planning for the project was a simple and direct study in two basic concepts-separating car and pedestrian while creating public and private paths and courtyards. Working within the confines of local zoning requirements, the project situates two rows of residences on either side of a central walkway that culminates in a communal pool area at the far end of each site. This primary path terminates with an eight foot diameter jet engine cowling acquired from a local aircraft salvage yard. Perfectly round and unabashed, the cowling sculpture contrasts readily with the ninety degree angles of the architecture to create a modern day termination of axis.

Inside, the units are filled with light and space to complement a flexible plan. Custom cabinetry and a steel stair define clean lines while windows are positioned to private courtyard space and the wonderful big blue desert sky. Private balconies provide an unimpeded view of the Catalina Mountains.

The units are highly insulated and skinned with durable materials, pre-wired for photo-voltaic power and pre-plumbed for solar water heat. Most importantly, the project takes an underused infill property and taps into the existing infrastructure and heart of a desert city.

Please visit the indigoMODERN website for more information.

location
Tucson, Arizona

client/owner
3rd Street Lofts, LLC

contractor
Ollanik Construction Company, Inc

area
39,600 sf total
1,800 sf each unit

completion date
November 2007

Silverado Flats provides a sophisticated alternative to the ubiquitous stucco-box apartment building. Centrally located, the project utilizes an infill site to create twelve units with outdoor spaces, an abundance of light, and a central entry court to foster a sense of community.

The program and site constraints called for two distinct sizes of units: one-bedroom one-story and two-bedroom two-story. The concept evolved into a wedge shape with the middle chopped out creating a shared courtyard in the negative space between. Steel trellis structures push into that space, creating a rhythmic interruption on one side of the court with trees on the other side. Salvaged fencing material surrounds private yards for each unit while road culverts become rainwater harvesting tanks. A small laundry room at the end of the courtyard plays host to an array of photovoltaic cells, providing a focal point and renewable energy for the site.

Please visit the Silverado Flats website for more information.

location
Tucson, Arizona

client/owner
Rebecca Block + Tim Haskin

contractor
Epstein and Fenton

area
12,500 sf

completion date
February 2007

photographer
Ross Cooperthwaite Photography

Notched into a steep hillside in the Tucson Mountains, this house utilizes simple rectangular forms arranged along a curve. With simple contrasts of rough to smooth, curved to straight, hard to soft, and heavy to light, the design creates a sequence of spaces that encourage multiple interpretations of its desert environs.

Overlaying a strict geometry on top of the rugged and uneven terrain, this residence provides a clear counterpoint of man-made to nature in plan while stepping with the site in section. Using polished concrete floors, integral color plaster, rusted metal and split-face block, the design creates an ensemble of desert inspired textures and hues that embrace its surroundings.

Oriented toward southern and western canyon views, the design is organized along a 100′ curved, clerestory lit gallery that runs through the center of the house. All rooms connect to this gallery providing for a daily exhibit of art and desert view alike.

This residence was featured in the January 2000 issue of Metropolitan Home and was the setting for a country music video by Gary Allan.

location
Tucson, Arizona

client/owner
Blair + Catherine Frederich

area
3,700 sf

completion date
1999

The monumental sixteen story 5151 building on East Broadway has been updated with a fresh, modern interior. The largest office tower in Tucson was initially designed without direct connection to the adjacent Major Boulevard and lacked the presence worthy of Tucson’s largest office tower. This design provides this connection and begins the process of updating the building and site to the 21st century while giving deference to the simple yet elegant structural system of the original concept.

The tower offers amazing panoramic views of the city and surrounding mountains and features a sleek new entry canopy and lobby that compliments the simple yet elegant 70’s modern building. The strict ten foot structural module of the existing building is used throughout the new design to form a bridge between old and new. Inside a customized reception desk, planter bench and a directory kiosk crafted from steel combine with deep blue Venetian wall and ceiling panels to provide a cool and current experience for the project. All 16 elevator lobbies are completely reworked and electrical and mechanical systems are revamped to transform the building.

location
Tucson, Arizona

client/owner
Bourn Partners, LLC

contractor
Caylor Construction

area
9,000 sf renovation

completion date
June 2006

photographer
Ross Cooperthwaite Photography

Located in downtown Tucson, this project involves the renovation and re-adaptation of a two-story 1890’s building into mixed-use housing and commercial. Phase one, the façade renovation, is complete while phase two, the loft conversion, awaits additional land assemblage to satisfy parking requirements.

Ultimately, the scheme will create four lofts upstairs with a central stair coming from both street and alley for access. Two additional lofts will be inserted into the lower floor along the alley side with kitchen and living areas located in the former basement area with two commercial spaces off of Congress Street. Additional space in the basement will become storage for both residential and commercial spaces.

Existing materials –brick, wood, and steel- of the 110 year old building are exposed to counterpoint with new steel and glass insertions into the space. The Facade is restored where possible to accent the wonderful brickwork and craftsmanship while adding sublime and modern interventions of glass and clear coated rusted steel.

Currently, the lower floor space is occupied by Rob Paulus Architect and the indigoMODERN sales office, while the upper floor is leased to residential users.

location
Tucson, Arizona

client/owner
Warren Michaels

contractor
Repp Construction Inc.

area
11,200 sf

completion date
2003

awards
2004
Sonoran Institute
Building from the Best of Tucson
Mixed Use Award

Designed for the husband and wife team who own the company, the project respected a tight construction budget and time schedule. The building combines all aspects of the Elastek Company: office space, sales, showroom and manufacture of elastomeric products.

Bold and colorful forms stand out against the surrounding industrial context. Highly articulated steel elements, painted bright green, pierce the building’s Galvalume shell. A prominent entry canopy shades the eastern face of the building while filtering morning light into the offices. It also provides a dramatic backdrop for the company signage.

The building has become a showpiece for Elastek and in 2001 received a design award from Metal Architecture magazine.

location
3700 East Palo Verde Road, Tucson, Arizona

client/owner
Janice + Richard Ulrich

contractor
Rio West Construction, Inc.

area
16,870 sf

completion date
September 2000

awards
2004
Industrial Perforators Association
Design Photo Competition

2001
Metal Architecture
2001 Design Award

74 DODGE represents the potential for establishing a new typology for the ubiquitous American retail plaza. This remodel of a 200 foot deep masonry structure with steel trusses uses common materials in minimal yet varied applications to dress up the ‘Big Box’.

Shifting building heights through the introduction of secondary façade treatments transformed what was a dismal presence into one of commanding character. Scale and rhythm are provided by a vertical trellis of composite decking and bold signage panels. Variable spacing in the trellis members creates a textural play of light and shadow through natural and artificial light. The signage panels composed of Marine Grade plywood and Galvanized Tube Steel structural supports balance the color composition and introduce a different approach for tenant signage that aims at alleviating the façade from the tired retail trend.

location
Omaha, Nebraska

client/owner
Bourn Partners, LLC

design architect
Rob Paulus Architect, Ltd.

architect of record
The Architectural Offices

contractor
Triumph Construction

area
28,500 sf

completion date
April 2006

The Camp Lowell Corporate Center development consists of office and out-patient medical space in two two-story and ten single-story buildings for sale as fee simple. Conceived as a simple kit of parts, the project varies fenestration and entry placement to satisfy different users while maintaining a consistent look throughout that recalls the nearby century old Camp Lowell.

A simple site layout allows complete legibility of the project and easy visual access to each building and tenant. Property lines divide the one story buildings into four distinct sellable areas, if necessary, to allow flexibility for a variety of end user space requirements. Simplicity of approach is also revealed in the materials; standing seam rusted roofs, exposed structural steel with integral color masonry and plaster. Light gauge steel trusses allow a column free interior and further acknowledge the flexibility inherent in the scheme.

The Camp Lowell Corporate Center was a joint architectural collaboration between the offices of Rob Paulus Architect, Ltd. and Jim McMahon Architect.

location
Tucson Arizona

client/owner
Rio West Development

contractor
Rio West Construction Inc.

area
75,616 sf

completion date
2004

One of three major mid-rises in downtown Tucson, the Bank of America building affords incredible views to the surrounding city, desert and mountains. These powerful vistas informed the design of the lobby and conference room to become as transparent as possible.

The interior creates a tranquil environment for the attorneys and their clients on the floor using a simple palette of true plaster, rough-cut travertine, and floor to ceiling glass. Custom elements- tables, shelving, glass signage- carry the overall design logic of simple functional elegance into all aspects of the design.

Working closely with local craftsman enabled a high-end result on a very limited budget.

location
Tucson, Arizona

client/owner
Blair Friedrich

contractor
Caylor Construction

area
1,000 sf

completion date
May 2001

The Barrio Restaurant project involved a close collaboration with three owners of a premier Southwest dining establishment. Located in downtown Tucson, the restaurant takes up the bottom floor of a two-story building that dates to 1914. Built in conjunction with a complete overhaul of the historic façade of the building, the design plays off the “old” brick building with new playful forms and re-interpretations of existing materials.

Designed within a limited budget, the concept creates space within the tight framework of the original structure and then expands this space to the outside dining area. Framed overhead with a tensioned fabric canopy, this exterior dining area is lit from below at night to become a welcoming lantern directing guests to the front entry. The interior is anchored on one side with a linear natural cherry wood bar with a 50′ long continuous painting of abstracted Palo-Verde trees at the other side. The restaurant is zoned into different levels to distinguish entry, main dining and private dining.

Working closely with a local artist, colors and textures were chosen to play off the earthy tone of the rusted steel elements of the design. The restaurant has enjoyed great success and has become a pivotal component of the revitalization of downtown.

location
Tucson, Arizona

client/owner
Ted Parks, Joe Casertano, + Jeffry Glomski

contractor
Repp Construction, Inc.

area
3,500 sf main house
350 sf exterior

completion date
2002

The renovation of the St. Andrews Gospel Hall provides new gathering space to complement the congregation’s new worship facility. The program consisted of creating a large lobby gathering space, a children’s library, a choir rehearsal room and office space, a warming kitchen and various other support spaces.

The existing space was an older metal building and was completely refurbished inside with new lighting, updated HVAC system, and several new exterior openings. Drawing from its connection at one end to a brand new sanctuary, materials were selected to both complement the adjacent space and reflect the hall’s more informal role in the church community.

The library took shape as an asymetrical “ark,” projecting into the lobby to emphasize the importance of that place of learning. The ark is clad with wooden slats and floats at each corner and at the ground and ceiling planes. The wooden slats are repeated at custom shelving elements inside. Color is used at accent walls to define spaces and to energize a standard flooring material. New interior windows and small slit openings add layers of visibility to the spaces.

location
Tucson, Arizona

client/owner
St. Andrews Presbyterian Church

contractor
Stouffer Construction

area
6,300 sf renovation

completion date
February 2006

990 East Seventeenth represents the re-adaptation of an existing repair shop building into 4,292 square feet of modern professional office building. Taking advantage of the efficient and open structure for open space and expanses of glazing, a unique office space and north facing courtyard is created to serve a small scale design-oriented user.

The transformation begins with the exterior skin. In place of the existing standard metal building panel, a new skin of lightweight aluminum panels form a rain screen over a heavily insulated wall system. A new standing seam roof encloses the building with south facing shaded monitor skylights at each of the four bays along with an energy efficient roof insulation system. Each of the original Roll-up doors along the north facade are replaced by two 5’ x 10’ pivoting glass doors to provide views to the landscaped courtyard and mountains beyond. Additional apertures slip along the base at the East and West of the building to expose hints of structure and activity inside. Along the South facade, a thin strip window runs high along the length of the building to maximize the natural lighting possibilities within the interior.

Inside, an undulating wood slat ceiling creates an organic flowing space providing spatial interest and acoustic relief.  A shared restroom core accessible at the North facade frees up interior space for each tenant to create a plan to suit their needs.

Lush desert landscaping and hardscape enliven the outdoor spaces throughout the site to create a virtual oasis with shade and plant color.

The building plays off its neighbors including other award winning projects by Rob Paulus Architect: to the north, the re-adaptation of the Ice House and Cold Storage Building into the successful Ice House Lofts, and to the east the popular Barrio Metalico residential development. This third project will complete the block with complementary design and a common sensitivity to smart urban development. The proximity to downtown, the University, and central Tucson offer an advantageous central location.

location
Tucson, Arizona

client/owner
Rob Paulus Architect

contractor
n/a

area
4,292 sf

completion date
n/a

The re-adaptation and repositioning of the 1969 Martin Luther King Jr. building represents a major step forward to breathing new life into the East end of Downtown Tucson. Situated adjacent to the thriving Hotel Congress and the newly renovated Rialto Theater, the One North Fifth project will fill in the corner of Congress and Fifth Avenue and reconnect to the urban fabric of downtown with 9,000 square feet of new retail/commercial space at street level. Five North Fifth, to the north, will provide more residential and commercial space, as well as create a private courtyard space for residents.

Long thought of as a brutish block of a building with a bad rap, the apartments will be completely re-worked to look better, function more efficiently and embrace a “smart growth” approach while saving a 38 year old building that was previously destined for the landfill. The transformation of this site is pivotal in garnering momentum for the re-building of downtown Tucson into the thriving, bustling center it used to be.

The introduction of a mixed use component assists in salvaging the existing use and upgrades the building’s presence and functionality. The incorporation of sustainable amenities and a modern aesthetic provides the potential to broaden cliental and merchants, as well as create a more interactive dialogue with the street.

For more information, please visit www.onenorthfifth.com

location
Tucson, Arizona

client/owner
Depot Plaza Investors LLC + Peach Properties

contractor
Concord Construction , Inc.

area
57,000 sf residential
9,000 sf commercial

completion date
Summer 2008

Situated at the first uplift of the Catalina Foothills in Tucson, this residence for Rob Paulus and his family reaches up and out to capture impressive mountain and desert wash views while providing a clear counterpoint to the curvy site. Although over an acre in size, the small build-able portion of the site informed the design concept to float over the wash, freeing up the remaining area for a pool and guest house while preserving a majority of the natural landscape.

The main residence is zoned into a central living area with private rooms relegated to the ends; with an unrestricted view to the north and specific framed views to the south. Blue Venetian plaster cubes, containing storage and bath, clearly separate public from private areas. A steel frame with Veirendeel trusses cantilevers each direction to form the rectangular volume that sits upon a partially depressed concrete cube. This lower form houses storage against two walls and provides a space for music that spills out onto a patio area covered by the floating bedroom wing above. The guest house to the north completes the layout and reverses its primary view back to the city lights.

The R+R residence is a clear study in maximizing a site with structural ingenuity while maintaining as much natural area as possible.

location
Tucson, Arizona

client/owner
Randi Dorman + Rob Paulus

contractor
Randi Dorman + Rob Paulus

area
3,000 sf

Situated on a tight corner site in Scottsdale Arizona, this project pushes up three floors and out to maximize the zoning envelope while accommodating visibility for automobiles on the corner. The lower floor is pulled back from the street to allow parking in front of the houses while affording privacy at the entry with distance and landscape from the street. Upper floors cantilever out over this area and gently curve at the top to follow setback lines to form a vertical wing form.

The project consists of two distinct elevations: the two sides facing the street have generous fenestration and large movement of different materials while the back sides at property lines are solid masonry that are broken up with top to bottom light slits to the south. These walls undulate with a three dimensional block pattern to create varied shadow patterns throughout the day and a sense of fluidity uncommon to masonry construction.

Interior circulation is defined by a three story high masonry shear wall that supports the stairways between floors and exposes the same block used on the exterior. Other highly insulated masonry walls are also left exposed within the spaces to create a distinct contrast of textured surface to smooth wall. All major spaces exhibit views to nearby Camelback Mountain and highlight the potential to have distinct urban living that embraces climate, the region, and the concept of smart growth within a city. The project is poised to be Residential LEED Certified and will qualify for the City of Scottsdale Green Building Program.

location
Scottsdale, Arizona

client/owner
Urban Rise Development LLC

contractor
n/a

area
8,775 sf

This house for a young couple on a desert hillside is commanding in both its topography and surrounding views. The dramatic slope encourages a minimal footprint and stacked space. With a strong horizontal character and minimalist forms, the structure slides between saguaros and floats over the site. A masonry base is a perch on which the slender steel residence balances itself above the land. Prominent views to the east and a significant rock out-cropping are captured and inform the residence’s orientation and placement of apertures.

A tight budget combined with a desire to build minimally allowed a living area that completely opens up to the city and Mountain View to the east. In essence the great room is at once interior room and exterior portal with an operable enclosure that blurs the line between the inside and the surrounding valley of the Tucson Mountains.

Efficiency in site intervention, construction, and inhabitation produce a residence that is both logical and calm. Coordination and sequencing of construction were necessary considerations in preserving the quiet landscape. Supported by two parallel Veirendeel trusses, the house is divided into two distinct zones; private functions are arranged in the southern end of the house, with kitchen, living and dining to the north.

Primary circulation is limited to one edge of the building, providing an overall linear organization. Low ceilings and smooth directional surfaces finish out the scheme and draw the eye through the building and out to the landscape.

location
Tucson, Arizona

client/owner
Chris + Rose Faitsch

contractor
Repp Construction, Inc

area
1,900 sf

This metal building project consists of two separate buildings shared by the same entity. Southwest Hazard Control, a business that provides environmental abatement services, will operate its administrative functions from the office building with storage of its goods for services located in the warehouse building. A wedge-shaped courtyard is formed between the two buildings providing an outdoor room that connects to the conference room of the office building.

The large expanse of interlocking standing-seam metal roofs slope directly into large-scale oversized galvalum gutters that then feed into an array of rainwater harvesting tanks. Site landscaping is irrigated with water from the rainwater storage tanks.

Satin anodized aluminum storefront glazing systems provide expansive views out from the offices and supply abundant natural light into the open office area, while also shaded with exterior metal fins and awnings. Solatube skylights add to the natural light in both the office and warehouse building.

Photovoltaic panels will be located on the office building roof to offset the energy use of the facility. Low-water use plumbing fixtures are specified throughout. The project is registered for LEED Certification.

location
Tucson, Arizona

client/owner
Southwest Hazard Control, Inc

contractor
Southwest Hazard Control G.C.

area
4,200 sf offices
12,000 sf warehouse

completion date
Summer 2008

The Dos Pedros Lofts represent five highly efficient single family houses in the historic Barrio Viejo neighborhood in Tucson Arizona. Located immediately south of the University of Arizona, the two-story freestanding lofts with enclosed entrance courtyards represent an ideal approach of spatial and thermal efficiency built within the existing city infrastructure.

High ceilings and large windows emphasize light and space with a plan that wraps around an intimate courtyard area. Views to the north from the upper floor capture the magnificent Catalina Mountains while lower windows and sliding glass doors look into private landscaped areas. Highly insulated Rastra walls, water harvesting tanks and dual pane, low-e glass make the units energy efficient and environmentally conscious.

location
Tucson, Arizona

client/owner
Bronx Partners LLC

contractor
White Builders LLC

area
1,600sf - 2,300sf each loft

completion date
July 2007

The client sought a more open approach to their new home after years of living in a historic adobe house in the middle of town. The design concept quickly evolved to reflect the couple’s desire to downsize their lifestyle while “super sizing” their views of the dramatic desert landscape.

Creasing and folding the rusted metal skin in plan and section directs primary views in two distinct directions to capture magnificent mountain and city vistas. This informal and improvisational geometry allows high points of the roofline to stretch out into the desert to shade the window wall from harsh summer sun. Foreground Saguaro cacti found along the nearby streambeds and hills are experienced from small square and rectangular windows positioned along the sidewalls. Visual connection to the spectacular landscape is paramount even in the bath, where vanity mirrors at the upper floor bath pivot to reveal the mountain views.

Private functions of the loft are relegated to the core of the structure and do not touch the outer walls or high ceiling to establish a flow of circulation and view that belies the small footprint. The core also separates living areas from the bedroom and studio.

The rugged and jagged exterior forms a stark contrast to the smooth and controlled interior. Some elements like the vertebrae stair, however, reinterpret the craggy desert into a functional element while interjecting the rustic vocabulary of the building skin into the interior.

location
Tucson, Arizona

client/owner
Schibley

contractor
Repp Construction, Inc

contractor
1,912 sf

Lacking a unified image along a busy thoroughfare in Tucson Arizona, the owners of this Honda Motorcycle Dealership sought to clean up its façade to better reflect the high quality product they sell.

The existing façade was demolished and the building was painted a gray base color allowing metal elements- powder-coated “Honda Red”- to contrast with the overall composition. These Architectural elements of signage and entry canopy match perfectly with the bright red of the motorcycles to create a cohesive blend of building and product.

location
Tucson, Arizona

client/owner
Tom Matte

contractor
Kachina Construction

completion date
1996

Jena Restad
project manager
jena@robpaulus.com

born
Seattle, Washington

education
Bachelor of Architecture
College of Architecture
University of Washington
Seattle, Washington

Associates Degree
Northwest College of Wooden Boat Building
Port Hadlock, Washington

The Arizona Department of Transportation project will be a new 10,800 square-foot facility that consolidates the numerous functions of registration, titling, and licensing under one roof.

This one stop-shopping program required the design to be legible and usable while fitting on a tight and constrained site. Just as the road displays its signs and symbols to guide and inform us, so does this building provide the same clarity of function.

The structure is reminiscent of a Victorian train station, and has an arch-trussed roof supported by masonry bearing walls. Freestanding light banks relieve the roof plane of any fixtures, and provide intimate lighting for counter transactions. The eastern and northern facades frame the stunning desert environment, and use reflected light off the entry billboard to illuminate the interior.

Endowed with a playful, lighthearted atmosphere, this project endeavors to raise the spirits of its users to avoid a dreary, pressured experience.

location
Tucson, Arizona

client/owner
Arizona Department of Transportation

square footage
10,800 sf

completion date
unbuilt

awards

1996
AIA Arizona Design Competition
Merit Award

Simple criteria guided the design of this residence–configure the house on the site to maximize the views to mountain and city lights and create a passive solar orientation that works in the desert.

The topography was used as a point of departure for the design; the house wraps itself around the highest point of the site and lays as low as possible on the land. The residence emphasizes the integration of man made and nature by using simple rectangular forms reminiscent of the vernacular building typology of the desert. Detached guesthouse and garage volumes dissolve the scale of building into the landscape. Indoor and outdoor spaces are woven together to ground the residence and its occupant in the landscape.

location
Oro Valley, Arizona

area
3,400 sf

This multi-story project creates attractive and zero-energy use commercial space along an under-utilized corridor which defines the southern edge of California State University in Sacramento California. Working with a unique industrial design and prototyping company, Design Annex, this building houses their new headquarters with the remaining area leased as speculative commercial and retail space.

Occupying a small and challenging site the building includes a grid-tied 30 kilowatt photovoltaic system that hovers above the building to shade the roof and upper exterior walkway while integrating this prominent component into the overall design concept of efficiency. Without area for trees and landscape the exterior stairs are sheathed in cables and vines to become topiary and satisfy a need for vegetation on site. Rainwater is harvested and used for landscape and water closets. The project is poised for LEED certification and aggressively explores efficient design for an enlightened client in the private sector.

location
Sacramento, California

client/owner
Design Annex

contractor
n/a

area
9,340 sf

completion date
Fall 2008

AWARDS

national
2008 Sunset Magazine
Special Award
Ice House Lofts

2007 Multifamily Executive Awards
Green Building Award
Silverado Flats

2007 AIA Sunset Western Home Awards
Adaptive Reuse Special Award
Ice House Lofts

2006 Grand Builder’s Choice Award
Builder Magazine
Production/Semi-Custom Housing Award
Barrio Metalico

2006 Special Focus Builder’s Choice Award
Builder Magazine
Special Focus Award
Barrio Metalico

2006 Residential Architect Magazine Design Awards
Single Family Production Housing Grand Prize
Barrio Metalico

2004 Industrial Perforators Association
Design Competition
E-las-tek Warehouse

2001 Metal Architecture
Design Awards
E-las-tek Warehouse

2000 Home of the Year
Metropolitan Magazine
Chaos Canyon House

regional
2007 AIA Western Mountain Region
Citation Award
Silverado Flats

2007 AIA Arizona Design Awards
Honor Award
007 House

2007 AIA Arizona Design Awards
Merit Award
Barrio Metalico

2005 AIA Western Mountain Region
Merit Award
Ice House Lofts

2005 AIA Western Mountain Region
Citation Award
Barrio Metalico

1996 AIA Arizona Design Competition
Merit Award
A.D.O.T. facility

1994 Design Excellence Award
Presented by the Department of the Navy
Fallon Nevada Dormitories

local
2007 AIA Southern Arizona
Citation Award
Silverado Flats

2007 Tucson Lifestyle Home & Garden
AIA Homes of the Year
Silverado Flats

2006 AIA Southern Arizona Chapter
Merit Award
Lost Canyon House

2006 AIA Southern Arizona
2006 Architecture Week Home Tour
Ice House Lofts

2006 Sonoran Institute
Building from the Best of Tucson Awards
Urban Development/Infill
Barrio Metalico

2006 Sonoran Institute
Building from the Best of Tucson Awards
Creative Reuse and Rehabilitation
Ice House Lofts

2004 AIA Southern Arizona Chapter
Merit Award
Puhler Residence

2004 AIA Southern Arizona Chapter
Design Excellence Citation
Home of the Year 2004
Barrio Metalico

2004 AIA Southern Arizona Chapter
Architecture Week
12th Annual Custom Home Tour
Barrio Metalico

2004 Sonoran Institute
Building from the Best of Tucson
Mixed Use Award
Congress Street Lofts

2002 AIA Southern Arizona Chapter
Design Excellence Award
Home of the Year
Puhler Residence

1990 Roy P. Drachman Award for Distinguished Commercial Architecture

1986 AIA Illustration Award (First Prize)
University of Arizona

The goal of this mixed-use infill project is to provide the opportunity for a unique and refreshing livable community in the heart of downtown. This project includes the following design elements and objectives:

• Courtyard scheme designed to encourage open air cross-ventilation

• Full-grown trees to fill interior courtyard space for shading the parking lot and to soften visual effect of parking area from above

• Include vine-growth on vertical trellises for full height of interior courtyard to assist in outdoor thermal comfort and privacy for both residential units and catwalks

• Strengthen geometric integrity of “bar-scheme” for distinguished modern residential architecture

• Provide condo units with a sense of openness with the benefit of light and air from two sides of each unit Design double-height loft units on top floor

• Take advantage of views: sunset views, mountain views, downtown views

• Provide private exterior balconies for each unit that relate to primary views

• Create a hip rooftop space for residents – with spa and gym facilities

• Provide a sense of security for residents with private ground floor lobby, and keycard entry-points from parking to stairs and elevator

• Achieve low-energy building operation and efficient water use for building and landscaping

• Obtain ground-floor commercial tenants that complement livability and provide amenities for residential above a simplified structural and exterior cladding system to expedite construction time

location
Tucson, Arizona

client/owner
Cummings & Baccus
Chapman Management Group
Metro Realty, LLC

area
9,300 sf commercial
12,900 sf residential

completion date
March 2008

Balance serves as the figurative vehicle through which we addressed, resolved and reconciled the seemingly disparate desires and expectations for this project. Through its physical form, the solution balances the scale of the single-story El Presidio neighborhood with the adjacent mid-rise residential and government buildings. In terms of providing sufficient parking; the solution balances the City of Tucson’s desire for public parking with the need for private parking for Presidio Terrace residents. Perhaps most importantly, the solution balances the insertion of a contemporary residential building within the oldest and most historically-significant neighborhood in Tucson.

The first design strategy is to embrace the meaning and aspirations behind the chosen name “Presidio Terrace.” With regards to the term Presidio, we adopted the original Presidio San Augustin del Tucson as a point of departure for architectural design. With regards to the term Terrace, our project pulls away from the street edge as it ascends to upper levels and allows light infiltration to the inner courtyard, the Tucson Water building courtyard and to Paseo Redondo.

The second design strategy involves creating meaningful indoor-outdoor spaces. The corner neighborhood market café addresses the need for local gathering and purchase of goods. A semi-private courtyard is established between the two main buildings and is semi-enclosed with a living roof held up with vertical and horizontal cables. Each unit then has a private balcony or courtyard to fully appreciate the wonderful climate of the Southwest.

The third design strategy is to avoid all interior-loaded corridors typical of multilevel housing and to provide exterior circulation to every residential unit. This creates the opportunity to flood every residential unit with at least two sources of sunlight and eliminates the internal corridor typically found in dreary multistory condominiums.

location
Tucson, Arizona

client
Presidio Terrace Development, LLC

contractor
n/a

area
75,000 sf

The 20th street residences represent four houses set within one of the oldest neighborhoods in Tucson. The property was originally slated for a marginal five unit rental complex when a deal was struck to purchase the property and pursue a better use of the land. This new concept created four separate lots and a much better benefit for both developer and the neighborhood.

The three separate forms of garage, great room and bedroom wing wrap around a central courtyard to create a modern version of the Mexican courtyard house that is adapted to work in the more Anglo zoning requirements of setbacks and spacious front yards. The front gate becomes the front door and lets one in to a covered “Zaguan” or entry porch before opening up into the main living area and courtyard. Adobe construction for the public living areas contrasts highly with the insulated frame construction at bedroom areas to create a highly varied spatial experience within a budget. Metal skin and roof further complement this mix and express modern materials and design against millennium old earthen construction.

location
Tucson, Arizona

client/owner
Tierra Nueva, LLC

contractor
n/a

area
2,035 sf per unit

The Henkel Artist Lofts represent three highly efficient single family houses in an up and coming Lost Barrio neighborhood in Tucson, Arizona. Located immediately south of the University of Arizona, the two story freestanding lofts represent an ideal approach to spatial and thermal efficiency built within the existing city infrastructure.

High ceilings and abundant windows emphasize light and space with a plan that wraps around an intimate courtyard area. Views to the north from the upper floor capture the magnificent Catalina Mountains while lower windows and sliding glass doors look into private landscaped areas. Highly insulated Rastra walls, water harvesting tanks and Dual pane, low-e glass make the units energy efficient and environmentally conscious.

location
Tucson, Arizona

client/owner
David Henkel

contractor
David Henkel

area
1,592 sf per unit

The La Placita Conversion integrates 65 new dwelling units into what was formally office and retail space to completely rebrand and create a mixed use project in the middle of downtown Tucson. Built in the early 1970’s under the guise of urban renewal, the original project and program have fallen short of the original intent to energize a beguilded and formally downtrodden part of town.

This inclusion of a residential component seeks to bring the original and historic use of this site back into play while also integrating wayfinding and a new and generous landscaping theme. Furthermore, a complete overhaul of fenestration and mechanical systems will mazimize the energy efficiency of the buildings.

The treatment and refinement of the existing infrastructure with newly defined colors, textures, and materiality that will bring a sense of cohesion to the various buildings and businesses that comprise La Placita.

location
Tucson, Arizona

client/owner
Bourn Partners, LLC

area
140,000 sf

Inspired by the quiet beauty of the Southwest Desert, the design concept for this nine home subdivision creates a feeling of escape and privacy in the center of town. Located in the Old Ft. Lowell neighborhood, a distinguished historic district in Tucson, this project draws upon a rich legacy of Sonoran Desert design (i.e. passive solar techniques, masonry walls, metal roofs) to create a rapport between nature and home that belies the urban location of the site.

The desert homes of Canciones are arranged along a quiet, tree-lined road which winds it’s way back to a landscaped island cul-de-sac. Units are staggered to give each unit a mountain view while creating privacy for each home.

Canciones incorporates materials and colors unique to the desert, creating a lifestyle centered on landscaped courtyards, naturally lit interiors, and delicately positioned views of the striking Santa Catalina mountain range.

location
Tucson, Arizona

client/owner
PrimaVista Homes, Inc.

contractor
PrimaVista Homes, Inc.

area
18,800 sf

Bill Mackey
project architect
bill@robpaulus.com

born
Lansing, Michigan

education
Bachelor of Science in Architectural Studies
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign,
Champaign, Illinois

Bachelor of Architecture
College of Architecture
University of Arizona
Tucson, Arizona

Master of Architecture
College of Architecture
University of Arizona
Tucson, Arizona

Sandi Garrick
indigoMODERN office manager
Rob Paulus Architect project facilitator
Sandi@robpaulus.com

born
Concord, New Hampshire

This single family residence was created for the Tucson Museum of Art 2006 ‘Birds of a Feather’ birdhouse silent auction.

The Desert Dove makes her nest in the city’s forgotten places, in the incidental places underneath and between the larger elements that comprise our own shelters and industries. Inspired by this reality of urban dwelling, our bird port provides the necessary elements for this indigenous bird, and suggests a sustainable microcosm for humans to assimilate.

• locally harvested Mesquite wooden box has three open sides for avian monocular visibility
• access and freedom of wing movement specific to the Desert Dove
• recyclable aluminum trellis shades the structure to minimize radiant heat
• angled roof collects and directs water to a reservoir
• minimal recyclable steel perch protects against predators
• each layer of material serves a unique function and works holistically with the others

location
Tucson, AZ

client/owner
desert dove

area
3 sf

Creating a site sculpture

The central walkway at indigoMODERN Lofts terminates with an eight foot diameter jet engine cowling. Perfectly round and unabashed, the cowling contrasts the ninety degree angles of the architecture to create a modern day termination of axis.

The cowling was acquired from a local airplane salvage yard. It has been sandblasted and sits on a custom designed, integral-color black concrete base.

millville neighborhood

Deep Freeze Development, LLC
Ice House Lofts + Barrio Metalico

If Deep Freeze Development, LLC had not purchased the Arizona Ice and Cold Storage building, it would have most likely been demolished as it had outlived its industrial life. Preserving and reusing this building has prevented 1,240 tons of concrete and 777 tons of brick from being demolished and discarded as waste. Many materials from within the building were salvaged and incorporated as architectural elements, creating a unique sensibility throughout the project. Quantities of reclaimed and re-used material in addition to the existing main walls and roof structure include:
• 5,000 ft of 2×10 lumber (hallway framing)
• 4,200 ft of 2×6 lumber (throughout)
• 14,400 sf of corrugated metal (fencing for Barrio Metalico)
• 3,600 lineal ft of 2” Diameter refrigerant piping (fencing around the pool and bike racks)
• Five lineal miles of 1×7 box car siding (courtyard fencing)

Furthermore, the Ice House Lofts create density within an infill lot. 51 residences contained on 2.66 acres and nine Barrio Metalico units across the street translates into 19 families living within each acre. The formerly neglected neighborhood has been revived with a powerful sense of residential community.

Sustainabilty was primary factor in the development of the site; by tapping into an existing infrastructure, the impact that new development typically creates in the West was greatly minimized. All units are so energy efficient that they come with the TEP Comfort Guarantee. Grading and paving were kept to a minimum by re-using the existing site, and salvaging the building reduced the amount of embodied energy inherent in the material transportation and labor of new construction. Essentially, the lifespan of the building has increased dramatically by assigning a new function to the shell.

miramonte neighborhood

Third Street Lofts, LLC
indigoMODERN

Located in the center of Tucson, this 11 unit town loft project defines community living with proximity to shopping, restaurants and the nearby University of Arizona. Built on the former site of a mobile home park on one side of Third Street and over a dilapidated duplex on the other side, indigoMODERN re-builds an important infill location with energy conscious design and efficient use of indoor and outdoor space.

Parking is located nearest the street, therefore creating a buffer from traffic for the residential buildings. All 11 units are accessed by a single pedestrian path to encourage more interaction with the landscape and between residents. Each single family home is two stories and has a private entry, yard and balcony. Construction of Phase One, 11 units on the north site, is complete and home are for sale. Third Street Lofts, LLC ghas also renovated a duplex just west of indigoMODERN which will further strengthen the identity of the neighborhood.

Architecture must lie gently upon the earth and be responsive to it’s environs. It must fit with its site, and work with all surrounding elements whether in a tight urban environment or in the middle of nowhere. Just as a good jazz, horn player works with and becomes a part of the rhythm section, a building must embrace its locale and play off of it’s surroundings.

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Growing up in Arizona, the desert has played an important role in forming my approach to architecture. Blue skies wash down to the horizon and form a backdrop to the craggy, spiny earth and cactus. Wide-open space predominates the view, yet is contrasted by tight canyons with the dappled light overhang of mesquite trees. The desert has imbued in me an intense appreciation for nature that I find ultimately satisfying.

Architecture to me is about nature. Pleasing to the eye and sensual to the touch, there should be a balance in built form that echoes the give and take of a natural environment. Just as an ecosystem contains many constituent parts that make up the whole, I strive to create articulated parts that work together on many different levels to develop the composition of a project. Many times the natural complexity of a site is better served by creating a simple backdrop to the inherent beauty already present.

Critical to the architectural process is a team approach. Good relationships with clients and contractors are necessary to allow a free interchange of ideas. This allows a hands-on approach to build upon strong concepts. Crucial to this team process is the concept of client to architect relationship. A strong direct relationship between designer and user provides for a marriage of ideas, resulting in built forms that are conceived of in a natural dialogue.

Conceptually, my approach to architecture relies on a sculptural rather than decorative composition. Merely copying the past belittles its very integrity. Notable buildings throughout history have all stressed innovation, from the soaring structural ribs of Chartes Cathedral in France, to the technologically daring Lloyd’s of London. All precedent setting architecture has sought to create something new that is both functional and inspiring.

My ultimate ambition is to create projects that are pleasing and functional to the user while maintaining a clear design direction.

Rob Paulus, AIA

Structure is the backbone of the built environment. One need only admire a tall, mature saguaro cactus in a stiff wind to realize the functional and dynamic potential of structure. Structure can explain how a building is put together while breaking down the scale of spaces, and give visual meaning and interest. Synthesizing the client’s needs with an appropriate structural solution, while utilizing good quality materials, can define a remarkable and lasting work of architecture.

Buildings reside in the landscape.
They do not move, but display surprising patience.
The simplicity of their elements: concrete, wood, steel, glass
Introduce us each day to the landscape.
Outgrowths of the landscape, They shape human affairs.

We find a wild array of uses for our buildings!
In these structures, we make and share meals, sit up late reading by small lights,
argue and whisper by turns,
make decisions concerning corporate budgets, or government policy.
Fall down laughing.
In other rooms, voices grow quiet
or hurry toward the voice of a crying child.
Wait for the arrival of visitors.
In darkened rooms we couple and uncouple,
we sleep.

- Alden Borders

AWARDS

2007
AIA 15th Annual Home Tour
Green Focus
indigoMODERN Lofts
Silverado Flats

AIA/Sunset Magazine
Special Award for Adaptive Reuse
Ice House Lofts

AIA Southern Arizona Chapter
Citation Award
Silverado Flats

AIA Western Mountain Region
Citation Award
Silverado Flats

AIA Arizona Design Awards
Honor Award
007 House

AIA Arizona Design Awards
Merit Award
Barrio Metalico

AIA Tucson Lifestyle
Homes of the Year
Silverado Flats

2006
AIA Southern Arizona Chapter
Merit Award
Lost Canyon House

Builder Magazine Builder’s Choice Award
Grand Prize
Production/Semi-Custom Housing
Barrio Metalico

Builder Magazine Builder’s Choice Award
Special Focus Award
Barrio Metalico

Residential Architect Design Awards
Single Family Production Housing Grand Prize
Barrio Metalico

Sonoran Institute Building from the Best of Tucson Awards
Urban Development/Infill
Barrio Metalico

Sonoran Institute Building from the Best of Tucson Awards
Creative Reuse and Rehabilitation
Ice House Lofts

AIA Southern Arizona Chapter
Architecture Week
Custom Homes Architecture Tour
Ice House Lofts

2005
AIA Western Mountain Region
Merit Award
Ice House Lofts

AIA Western Mountain Region
Citation Award
Barrio Metalico

2004
AIA Southern Arizona Chapter
Merit Award
Puhler Residence

AIA Southern Arizona Chapter
Design Excellence Citation
Home of the Year 2004
Barrio Metalico

AIA Southern Arizona Chapter
Architecture Week
12th Annual Custom Homes Architecture Tour
Barrio Metalico

Sonoran Institute
Building from the Best of Tucson
Mixed Use Award
Congress Street Lofts

Industrial Perforators Association
Design Competition
E-las-tek Warehouse

2002
AIA Southern Arizona Chapter
Design Excellence Award
Home of the Year
Puhler Residence

2001
Metal Architecture
Design Awards
E-las-tek Warehouse

2000
Home of the Year
Metropolitan Magazine
Chaos Canyon House

1996
AIA Arizona Design Competition
Merit Award
A.D.O.T. facility

1994
Design Excellence Award
Presented by the Dept. of the Navy
Fallon Nevada Dormitories

1990
Roy P. Drachman Award
Award for Distinguished Commercial Architecture

1986
AIA Illustration Award (First Prize)
University of Arizona

Elizabeth Farkas
project manager
elizabeth@robpaulus.com

born
Toledo, Ohio

education
Bachelor of Science in Environmental Design
College of Architecture
University of Houston
Houston, Texas

Master of Architecture
College of Architecture
University of Houston
Houston, Texas

Karl Hansen
intern
karl@robpaulus.com

born
Corvallis, Oregon

education
Architecture Program
College of Architecture and Landscape Architecture
University of Arizona
Tucson, Arizona

Jeff Simon
project manager
jeff@robpaulus.com

born
Tucson, Arizona

education
Bachelor of Architecture
College of Architecture and Landscape Architecture
University of Arizona
Tucson, Arizona

Andrew Hesse
project manager
andrew@robpaulus.com

born
Tucson, Arizona

education
Bachelor of Architecture
College of Architecture and Landscape Architecture
University of Arizona
Tucson, Arizona

Our office is located on Congress Street on the ground floor of a building dating to the turn of the last century. The conscious choice to situate ourselves in downtown Tucson reinforces the firm’s primary objective to be involved with the revitalization of the city core, the activation of the central urban environment and to maintain close relationships with the city officials and urban development. The local development services department and many of our projects are within walking distance. This Green Choice is a major step towards contributing to smart growth and to a more sustainable range of alternatives for inhabiting the Sonoran Desert.

Some of the green choices that we make every day at Rob Paulus Architect:

• Focus on LEED certified projects
• Focus on infill building, renovations + adaptive reuse:
  • Ice House Lofts
  • Barrio Metalico
  • indigoMODERN Lofts
  • One North Fifth (former MLK Jr. Apartment Building)
  • Julian Drew Warehouse + Condominium conversions
  • Tiberon Condominium conversion
  • La Placita Exterior Renovation / Residential conversion study
  • Dos Pedros Lofts
  • Orange Row Condominiums

• Many of us commute via bike or on foot to work
• 100% of office paper is recycled
• RobPaulus.com is hosted on a solar-powered web server (AISO)
• Use of compact fluorescent light fixtures throughout our office
• Use of all natural, chemical free products for office maintenance and cleaning
• Purchase of 100 Kilowatt hours of green power a month through Tucson Electric Power
• Support of local businesses and activities (i.e. haircuts @ the local barber shop, tamales from the farmer’s market)
• Support of local restaurants and bars within walking distance

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Governing Law and Venue
This Agreement shall be interpreted, construed and governed by the laws of the State of Arizona, USA, without reference to its laws relating to conflicts of law and not including the provisions of the 1980 United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods. Venue for all disputes arising under this Agreement shall lie exclusively in the Courts of the State of Arizona in Pima County or the Federal District Courts of the District of Arizona (as permitted by law) and each party agrees not to contest the personal jurisdiction of these courts. Notwithstanding the foregoing, however, Rob Paulus Architect Ltd shall have the right to commence and prosecute any legal or equitable action or proceeding before any non-US court of competent jurisdiction to obtain injunctive or other relief in the event that, in the opinion of Rob Paulus Architect Ltd, such action is necessary or desirable. No Waiver, Severability No action of Rob Paulus Architect Ltd, other than an express written waiver or amendment, may be construed as a waiver or amendment of any of these Terms and Conditions of Use. Should any clause of these Terms and Conditions of Use be found unenforceable, wherever possible this will not affect any other clause and each will remain in full force and effect. We reserve the right to change these Terms and Conditions of Use prices, information and available contractual license terms featured on this website without notice. These conditions set out the entire agreement between Rob Paulus Architect Ltd and you relating to your use of this website.

Copyright © 2007, Rob Paulus Architect, Ltd. All rights reserved.

SITE MAP

PRESS

international
Wheeler, Bradley. “Arizona Jazz.”
Design Diffusion News
May 2008. pp 106-121.

Wheeler, Bradley. “Desert Cappuccino: IndigoMODERN.”
iSh
March 2008. no. 126, pp 132-137.

Wheeler, Bradley. “Tucson’s Deep Freeze: Ice House Lofts.”
iSh
March 2007. no. 106, pp 126-131.

O’Kelly, Emma and Corinna Dean.
Conversions
London: Laurence King Publishing Ltd, 2007.

Wheeler, Bradley. “Barrio Metalico,”
Summa + 73
June 2005. pp 192-197.

Wheeler, Bradley. “Sub-Suburbia: Barrio Metalico, Tucson Arizona,”
iSh
March 2005. no 27, pp 64-71.

Wheeler, Bradley. “Barrio Metalico,”
CasaD
January/February 2005. pp 12-25.

national
Maynard, Nigel F. “Architect’s Choice.”
Residential Architect
January/February 2008. p 69.

Azoff, Rachel Z. “Silverado Flats, Project of the Year: Green.”
Multifamily Executive
November 2007. p 42.

Caldwell, Kenneth and Gregory Hoadley. “Architects as Developers.”
Urban Land
November/December 2007. pp 62-70.

Lester, Margot C. “Tucson, Arizona: A Sonoran Desert city is ripe with possibility.”
Architect
May 2007. pp 56-58.

Maynard, Nigel F. “Builder’s Choice: Grand and Special Focus.”
Builder Magazine
October 2006. pp 122-123.

Caldwell, Kenneth. “Ten Modern Models.”
Multifamily Trends
May/June 2006. pp 52-57.

Weber, Cheryl. “06 Residential Architect Design Awards: single family detached/production housing grand.”
Residential Architect
May 2006. pp 98-99.

Trulsson, Nora Burba. “Western Mountain Region Design Awards.”
Sources + Design
November/December 2005. pp 75, 78.

Caldwell, Kenneth. “Modernism Comes Home to Tucson.”
Architectural Record
November 2005. pp 69.

Whitingslow, Thomas. “Rio Nuevo: Reinventing Tucson,”
Builder and Developer
June 2005. pp 74-76.

Bernstein, Fred A. “A `Cooler’ Edge to Tucson,”
National Perspectives, New York Times
26 December 2004. p 11.

Lee, Lydia. “Greening Arizona,”
Dwell
November/December 2003. pp 50-52.

Bernstein, Fred A. “Oasis,”
Metropolitan Home
January/February 2000. pp 80-85.

Thomas, Steven. “A Subtle Tint,”
This Old House
October 1999. p 44.

regional
Wheeler Bradley, “All Eyes on Indigo.”
Desert Living
April 2008. pp 58-64.

Wheeler Bradley, “The Big Chill.”
Desert Living
December 2006. pp 66-72.

Tyda, David, ed. 100˚ of Design. Finding Design in the Desert: 100 Places We Love.
Desert Living
July/August 2006. “Mini-Magazine.”

Tyda, David. “Welcome to the Barrio.”
Desert Living
May/June 2005. pp 90-93.

Miklofsky, Michael. “Urban Living Update.”
Biz AZ.
September/October 2003. pp 62-64.

Snyder, Judy. “007.”
Desert Living
September/October 2003. pp 74-77.

Phoenix Home and Garden
April 1999.

local
Teller, Stephanie. “Barrio redefined.”
Tucson Lifestyle Home & Garden
January/February 2008. pp 26-31.

“Metallic Marvel.”
Tucson Lifestyle Home & Garden
September/October 2007. pp 100-101.

Regan, Margaret, “Dance as Church.”
Tucson Weekly
15 March 2007. p 41.

Barrios, Joseph. “Housing honors bestowed on the ecological, unusual.”
Arizona Daily Star
14 March 2006. Section D5

Albanese, Charles. “Industrial Style.”
Tucson Lifestyle Home & Garden
January/February 2005. pp 100-101.

Dahood, Karen. “Balancing Act.”
Tucson Home Magazine
Fall 2004. pp 64-71.

Jeffery, R. Brooks. “The 007 House.”
Tucson Lifestyle Home & Garden
Winter 2003. pp 74-77.

“Desert Loft: Schibley Residence,”
Journal of the Southwest: Architecture
Spring/Summer 2003. pp 152-157.

Rob Paulus, AIA
Principal
rob@robpaulus.com

born
Tucson, Arizona

education
Bachelor of Architecture, 1988
College of Architecture and Landscape Architecture
University of Arizona
Tucson, Arizona

about
A student of both Music and Architecture, Rob joined the profession at the age of seventeen as a draftsman for a Tucson residential architect. His professional education was developed with a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Arizona in 1988. In 1993, Rob obtained his professional licenses in both Arizona and California and two years later started his own firm.

Rob’s approach to design is holistic and encompasses a broad range of influences that align to create enlightening projects that make maximum use of the budget. Central to this approach is to meet the present needs of a building and its users without comprising the stock of natural resources available for future generations.

Rob is a strong advocate of infill development and sustainable design and has garnered numerous awards and publications for his firm’s work. He recently formed a team of like-minded developers to build urban infill properties in his native city of Tucson. The nine unit Barrio Metalico marks the first completed project for this development team followed by the recently completed 51 residential unit Ice House Lofts project that adaptively reuses an existing circa 1920s ice factory. Both of these projects have been awarded Western Mountain Region AIA awards as a testament to their design success.

write:
186 East Broadway Boulevard
Tucson, Arizona  85719

call:
520.624.9805

fax:
520.622.8334

email:
rob@robpaulus.com

Communication is paramount to our process with special emphasis placed on a team approach. Our firm offers a wide variety of supporting skills including model making, CAD drawing and 3-dimensional visualization to facilitate the design process.

career opportunities
Rob Paulus Architect is always interested to interact with enthusiastic, design and environmentally conscious people. Please forward all inquiries and resumes to rob@robpaulus.com

currently under construction: SHC Warehouse

Grant + Silverbell Road
Tucson, Arizona

Rob Paulus Architect Ltd. is a firm dedicated to creating unique architecture with a functional resolve. Established in October of 1995, our practice combines artistic and practical experience to form a solid foundation for both client and consultant.

We aspire to create enlightening environments of the highest aesthetic quality that celebrate and work with nature. With a keen interest in durable materials made with smartly crafted details, our designs seek to be “in tune with earth and sky”.

Numerous awards and exhibitions lend to the firm’s credit, as we approach each project with an inventive style, and keep a clear focus on build-able solutions that involve sustainable principles. We believe that any project should combine responsivity to site and climate (locally and globally) with high aesthetic quality. For this reason, Rob Paulus Architect Ltd. is a member of the US Green Building Council and its staff is LEED accredited.

The monumental sixteen story 5151 building on East Broadway will be updated to provide better visibility, better signage and increased square footage, along with more humane exterior space that provides shade and inviting landscape. This iconic office tower in Tucson was initially designed without direct connection to the adjacent Broadway Boulevard and lacked the presence worthy of Tucson’s largest office tower. Our approach seeks to provide this connection and will begin the process of updating the building and site to the 21st century while giving deference to the simple yet elegant structural system of the original concept.

location
Tucson, Arizona

client/owner
Bourn Partners, LLC

contractor
n/a

area
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completion date
n/a