Photos: 5151 E. Broadway – Tucson's only high rise on the east side
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Rick Wiley
Photo editor
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Construction began on the 16-story, $8 million Great Western Bank building at 5151 E. Broadway in 1973. It was, and still is, the only high rise on the east side of Tucson. It was then the largest office space in Tucson at 265,000 square feet, more than the taller Tucson Federal Tower downtown. The building was constructed by the iconic Tucson company M.M. Sundt.
The building was a headquarters for Great Western Bank, but also had a branch of Pima Savings. As originally envisioned, it was to have a cocktail lounge, restaurant, barber shop, hair salon, travel agency and a jewelry store.
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The south side of 5151 E. Broadway as seen through a metal sculpture facing Broadway in Tucson on March 14, 2022. The 16-story, 261,000 square feet high rise office building opened in 1975.
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The conference room on the 16th floor at 5151 E. Broadway, shown on on March 14, 2022, has a sweeping view of the Santa Catalina Mountains and is open for use by any tenant and for rental by the outside organizations. The 16-story, 261,000 square feet high rise office building opened in 1975.
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The remodeled lobby at 5151 E. Broadway in Tucson on March 14, 2022. The 16-story, 261,000 square feet high rise office building opened in 1975.
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Tucson looking north from 5151 E. Broadway in Tucson on March 14, 2022.
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Architectural model of the proposed Great Western Bank building, 5151 E. Broadway Road, Tucson, in 1973.
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Tucson.Great Western Bank building, 5151 E. Broadway Road, Tucson, under construction in 1973.
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Great Western Bank building, 5151 E. Broadway Road, Tucson, under construction in 1973.
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Great Western Bank building, 5151 E. Broadway Road, Tucson, under construction in 1974. Like many tall buildings, there was no 13th floor.
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Great Western Bank building, 5151 E. Broadway Road, Tucson, under construction in 1974. Mobil gas station at right, just out of the picture.
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The original fountains at Great Western Bank building, 5151 E. Broadway Road, Tucson, in 1975.
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Lightning struck the Great Western Bank building at least once, in 1977. It knocked a piece off the top corner of the building, which crashed down and broke a car windshield.
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Alberto Moore examines the missing corner at the top of the Great Western Bank building, 5151 E. Broadway Road, Tucson, after a lightning strike in 1977.
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Great Western Bank building, 5151 E. Broadway Road, Tucson, at twilight in 1979. The first high rise on the east side was sold to Tucson Associates, Ltd., which paid $14.5 million. The buyers included West German businessmen.
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Great Western Bank building, 5151 E. Broadway Road, Tucson, at twilight in 1979. The first high rise on the east side was sold to Tucson Associates, Ltd., which paid $14.5 million. The buyers included West German businessmen.
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The lone Williams Centre office building under construction in his aerial photo in 1984. The 16-story Great Western Bank-Pima Savings building is at foreground right. Home lots from the original natural desert of the Williams Addition, an innovative 160-acre development with only 22 homes on large lots, still show in upper right. Developer Lew McGinnis bought all but two of the homes by 1980 to create Williams Centre.
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King Kong sits atop the Western Bank building at 5151 East Broadway Blvd. in 1977.
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A crane from Marco Crane and Rigging lifts a 6-ton refrigeration unit to the top of Great Western Bank building, 5151 E. Broadway Road, in 1982.
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The office complex at 5151 E. Broadway is gutted and being remodeled in 2009.
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Katie Cyprian, right, photographs while Scott Morrison with TUSD rappels past a floor in the 5151 E. Broadway Blvd. building as rappelers go "Over the Edge" and descend 17 stories to raise money for the Girl Scouts of Southern Arizona at 5151 E. Broadway in 2015. A total of 76 "Edgers" raised at least $1,000 each for the Girl Scouts to make the 190-foot descent.
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A pair of rappelers go "Over the Edge" and descend 17 stories to raise money for the Girl Scouts of Southern Arizona at 5151 E. Broadway in 2015.
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Bevin Smith smiles as she starts her descent while rappellers go "Over the Edge" and descend 17 stories to raise money for the Girl Scouts of Southern Arizona at 5151 E. Broadway Blvd. in 2015.
Rick Wiley
Photo editor
As featured on
How a California company was lured to Tucson by a remote workerFor Star subscribers: After a Californian moved to Tucson to work remotely during COVID, the company he works for is expanding to the Old Pueblo.
For Subscribers: Nine businesses have leased space at 5151 E. Broadway since the fourth quarter of 2024.
