Tucson's tallest tower offers naming rights

Hoping to lure a large tenant into Tucson’s tallest building, owners of One South Church are offering naming rights on the tower.

With about 80,000 square feet of space available to lease, owners would like to get a tenant into at least 25,000 square feet with the right to place their name on the tower in lights, said Zachary Fenton, one of the owners who bought the tower last year for $32 million. It is the first time the 30-year-old tower is in the hands of local owners.

“It is in the background of pretty much every Tucson image,” Fenton said of the building that is visible from Interstate 10. “It would be a very prestigious branding opportunity.”

Fenton said he got the idea when he heard the owners of the Monroe Building in downtown Phoenix adding naming rights to a tenant that occupied at least 27,000 square feet in the 19-story building.

“We’ve had a ton of interest,” Fenton said. “It’s a matter of timing.”

Michael Keith, CEO of Downtown Tucson Partnership, said it could be a real marketing boon for a tenant.

“It would be a virtual billboard they’d have to themselves,” he said. “It would be significant to have the only place with your name on it.”

As activity continues to bustle downtown, with many projects in varying degrees of construction, Keith thinks it’s a good time to snag the tower’s naming rights.

“We’re so close to busting this place open,” he said of downtown investment. “Everything is in place for it.”

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Fenton said he would love to see a local name on the tower.

“It’s cool to hear the mentality changing,” he said of companies with which he has met. “Five years ago they would never consider moving downtown.”

Fenton and his partners have been remodeling some of the building’s suites. Ceiling panels and walls have been removed in some offices to expose pipes and open up the space.

Other changes considered — such as getting rid of the 1980s-inspired gold touches in the lobby — were scrapped after meetings with existing tenants.

“Many love it as is,” Fenton said. “It’s a throwback.”

One South Church was first known as the United Bank Tower, then Citibank Tower, Norwest Tower and UniSource Energy Tower. Built in 1986, it has been known by its address since 2011.

The 23-story building has 240,811 square feet of space.

A second tower, on the adjacent pad, is in the development phase. One of the developers, Roger Karber, hopes to have a mix of condominiums and business in the sister tower.