Phoenix Forge

THE PROJECT

Project Highlights

Developed through a collaboration between GateWay Community College, Arizona State University, the City of Phoenix, the US Economic Development Administration, and APS
Historic preservation of a 1920’s building
Structural innovation of exterior steel canopy

Phoenix Forge, situated in downtown Phoenix, is the largest community makerspace in the Southwest, serving as a resource for students, faculty, and the public. The makerspace hosts classes, workshops, and events, and provides the community access to equipment, tools, software, and training to learn new skills alongside other like-minded individuals. This project involved a transformative renovation of a historic 3-bay masonry, concrete, and wood building to accommodate the new workshop and collaboration spaces.

OUR IMPACT

EXTERIOR STEEL CANOPY

supported from interior roof structure bypassing historic brick wall

PRIORITIZED REPAIR AND REUSE

of existing structure/materials

LARGEST COMMUNITY

makerspace in the Southwest

Service Provided

Structural engineering
Special structural inspections

OUR SOLUTIONS

Due to the structure’s age and condition, an extensive condition assessment was performed to focus repair and strengthening efforts on localized areas of the existing brick walls and wood roof trusses and planks. The project team prioritized maximizing the reuse of the existing structure, with MBJ designing repairs of the historic wood roof structure to retain as much of it as possible. Additionally, MBJ collaborated with the masonry contractor to incorporate salvaged brick from the site into areas needing repair. In the westernmost bay of the building, the roof structure was in poor condition and required replacement. To maximize efficiency, a new steel roof structure was installed to support the building’s new mechanical equipment, minimizing the need for equipment on the existing wood-framed roof structure in other bays. This new structure also supported new exterior canopies, bypassing the historic brick walls. New exterior wall openings were carefully designed to complement the existing elements, ensuring a cohesive aesthetic throughout the building and creating an inviting space for the community.