Westward Ho (Phoenix)
| Westward Ho | |
|---|---|
| General information | |
| Type | Residential (formerly Hotel, Office) |
| Location | Phoenix, Arizona |
| Coordinates | 33°27′17.9″N 112°4′25.82″W / 33.454972°N 112.0738389°W |
| Construction started | 1927 |
| Completed | 1928 |
| Opened | December 15, 1928 |
| Cost | $2,500,000(estimate) |
| Height | |
| Tip | 488 ft (149 m) |
| Antenna spire | 280 |
| Roof | 208 ft (63 m) |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 16 |
| Lifts/elevators | 3 |
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Westward Ho
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| Coordinates | 33°27′17.9″N 112°4′25.82″W / 33.454972°N 112.0738389°WCoordinates: 33°27′17.9″N 112°4′25.82″W / 33.454972°N 112.0738389°W |
| Built | 1927–28 |
| Architect | H. Rafael Lake, Louis L. Dorr |
| Architectural style | Mission/Spanish Revival, Other |
| MPS | Phoenix Commercial MRA (AD) |
| NRHP Reference # | 82002082 |
| Added to NRHP | February 19, 1982 |
The Westward Ho is a high-rise building in Phoenix, Arizona. The 16-story building, which is 208 ft (63m) to the roof, held the title of tallest building in Arizona for over 30 years until the completion of the Meridian Bank Tower in 1960.
The building primarily served as a hotel from its grand opening in 1928 until its official closure on April 7, 1980. The facility also housed several offices and restaurants, including one on the 16th floor called Top of the Ho. There were also several gathering rooms in the hotel, the Turquoise Room on the 2nd floor where many marriage receptions were held, and a large convention center adjacent to the main hotel which could seat 1,600 called the Thunderbird Room where many of Phoenix's big events took place.
After the hotel closed in 1980, the new owners converted the building into a subsidized housing complex for the elderly and mobility impaired. Currently, the facility houses as many as 320 residents in 289 rooms which were recently renovated to make them more accessible for apartment residents.
Construction of the hotel was announced in spring 1927 under the originally planned name, Roosevelt Hotel. The project was financed by Sutherlin-Barry & Company of New Orleans, Louisiana, for owner G. L. Johnson of Chicago, Illinois. The architectural team who designed the hotel were Fisher, Lake, and Traver, who had also designed the Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood, California a few years before. The hotel was to be operated by Johnson's Pacific Hotel Company. Work came to a halt in early 1928 with only 6-stories completed. In April, J. B. McNeil Company of Los Angeles, California, were awarded a contract to complete the hotel.
In September 1928, Charles V. Bob of New York City purchased all issued and outstanding shares of the Pacific Hotel Company from G. L. Johnson, complete financing of the hotel was transferred to Bob, including construction, furnishings, and equipment.August Heckscher loaned $275,000 to Bob prior to the purchase, in return for the loan, Bob pledged 10,000 shares of Pacific Hotel Company to Heckscher. Following the transfer of ownership, the hotels future name was changed from Roosevelt to Westward Ho. On September 20, Southwestern Supply Company of Phoenix was awarded a $100,000 contract for the heating and air-conditioning of Western Ho. The hotel officially opened its doors on December 15, 1928.
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