Look ahead and up-you can’t miss it! One South Church towers over everything else, a shimmering, modern skyscraper with sharp, angular tiers and a distinctive blue roof, rising like a giant glass chess piece right at the heart of the city.
Now, while you’re standing here craning your neck, let me tell you a tall tale-literally. Back in the 1980s, Tucson wanted more than just saguaros and sunsets; it aimed for the sky. Enter One South Church! We’re talking 23 stories-making it the undisputed tallest building in all of Tucson. Locals know it as “the one with the blue roof” or “the tallest building downtown,” and you’ve probably already used its shining glass walls as a beacon to find your way.
Designed by Fentress Bradbrum Associates, this building was actually supposed to have a twin. Imagine-two shiny towers dominating the skyline… but alas, only one made it, so you’re gazing at Tucson’s lone skyscraper hero. Construction started in 1985, and when it opened in 1986, it was known as United Bank Tower-so banking folks must have felt on top of the world. Over the years, the building changed names and tenants-today you might find everything from insurance companies to fancy law firms working behind those mirrored windows. And get this: the bottom nine floors now host the sleek Leo Kent Hotel, ready for anyone dreaming of sleeping among the clouds.
So next time someone says Tucson isn’t a city of skyscrapers, you can say, “Sure, but we’ve got One… and that’s all we need!”
