On the Avondale Civic Center campus, the two-story, 30,000-sq-ft facility comprises a conference center, which opens to a large plaza for activities in the cooler winter months; the Discover Avondale visitor center; gift shop; and offices for the mayor, council and other city staff.
Completed at budget and on schedule in February 2022, the $10.82-million building celebrates the area’s agricultural heritage with a design based on the concept of blooming cotton. When the plant is ready for harvesting, it shows a hard reddish-brown exterior protecting the soft cotton interior. Representing this, the rusted metal Corten steel panels will continue to oxidize; the alloy was developed to alleviate the need for painting and lasts decades without a recoating.