Charity and Commitment--The Best Publicity--Begin at Home Wheat Gallagher Associates, reputably the largest landscape architectural firm in Tucson, AZ, earned the Arizona Planning Association's (APA) 1995 Best Project Award for the offices they moved into a year ago. Developed by the firm's principals Elizabeth Wheat and Joanne Gallagher in conjunction with architect Bill Mueller, the 3,100-square-foot, two-story office project reflects the firm's urban design and project philosophies and commitment to the City of Tucson's efforts to promote infill projects. Several unique features ensure the building fits into the historic West University Neighborhood. Said Gallagher, "Most people think it's a renovated building--even people who watched us build it ask 'How did you save . . . ?'" Despite the emphasis on the historic, the office space is flexibly designed for modern business era. "An area for computers and a team meeting area with a light table occupy the center of the ground floor with private offices around the perimeter. Two upstairs suites, currently housing tenants, will allow us to expand," added Gallagher. "If necessary, the downstairs could be leased as executive suites." The most insightful aspect of the project may not have been the hands-on experience, but the title search and bond required by the Small Business Administration loan process. Gallagher told LASN, "The title search, required regardless of the size of the project, was a big chunk of the project cost. Even though this was a small project, we got to see a developer's concerns from their point of view." Photo: Utilizing bricks salvaged from demolition of a University of Arizona dormitory and constructed with native vegetation saved in place, the Arizona APA's Best Project Award demonstrates that sites do not have to be mass graded to be economical, no matter the scale of development.