about the curley
From Schoolhouse to Creative Campus
Rooted in the dramatic beauty of the Sonoran Desert and a vision for community renewal, the Curley School—originally built in 1919—has been transformed into a vibrant live/work campus for artists and makers. Once at risk of abandonment, the school was rehabilitated with care by the International Sonoran Desert Alliance, creating affordable housing, studios, and gathering spaces that honor the building’s heritage while fueling Ajo’s creative future.
Envisioning a Creative Future for Ajo
In 2000-2001, a group of concerned Ajo residents came together as Ajo Vision and worked together with the University of Arizona on developing a comprehensive plan for the town of Ajo. More than 400 people participated in the forums and agreed we should go forward. The results determined that Ajo needed and wanted to save historic treasures like the Curley School that were in disrepair and falling apart. The conclusion was that an arts and culture center, based on Ajo’s tri-cultural heritage should be the center-piece of a strong, new, creative economic development strategy for the town. Because success rested on identifying a sponsoring non-profit agency which already had a proven track record with agencies which would be large supporters of the project, Ajo Vision asked the International Sonoran Desert Alliance to assume ultimate responsibility for the project. The Board of ISDA reviewed the proposals and agreed this project was a good fit with its economic development mission. Success of the project is critical for the future of Ajo.
From Vision to Reality
As ISDA reviewed all the elements of the project and hosted community forums seeking input, it was determined the most viable use of the Curley School was to convert its classrooms to live-work units for artisans. By attracting artisans to Ajo , they could develop new economic opportunities for the whole town and new life would be brought into the Curley School and town.
Then we got busy. Since feasibility of the project was determined, ISDA raised more than $9.6 million dollars to purchase and develop the Curley Project. Architects and engineers completed studies, plans were drawn, and environmental studies were finished. Pima County staff and Supervisors had given us outstanding financial and motivational support. Individuals generously contributed to the project as well and continue to do so.
The Curley School, the historic public school in Ajo, Arizona, completed a multi-million-dollar renovation into 30 affordable live/work rentals for artists, artisans and creative home businesses. The grand opening was held on May 29, 2007.
A Historic Campus, Reimagined
The Curley School's eight buildings, spread out over a seven-acre campus, offer 114,000 square feet of apartments, classrooms, workshops, and a huge auditorium with an indoor-outdoor stage. Click here to view a map of the Curley School campus. The main building, an architectural masterpiece of Spanish Colonial Revival style, was built in 1919. Additional buildings were added to the campus in 1926 and 1937.
The Curley School is on the National Register of Historic Places and is located in the beautiful and equally historic heart of Ajo, a former copper-mining town in southern Arizona.
our parent non-profit
The International Sonoran Desert Alliance created the Curley School Artisan Apartments. In their largest single endeavor to date, ISDA has rehabilitated the historic and formerly abandoned “Curley School” in Ajo, Arizona, into affordable live/work rentals for artists of all media and creative home businesses. ISDA is also the founding organization of the Sonoran Desert Conference Center and has restored the Ajo Plaza.
The International Sonoran Desert Alliance (ISDA) was formed in 1993 by members of the Tohono O’odham Nation and residents of Sonora, Mexico and Ajo, Arizona. Ajo is a small town in the heart of the Sonoran Desert—10,000 square miles of the hottest, most fragile desert ecosystem in North America. ISDA’s mission is an uncommon blend of concern for community, culture, and environment. It is rooted in the belief that environmental conservation and preservation can—and should—coincide with a community’s economic sustainability.
Celebrating Recognition & Impact
Over the years, the Curley School has earned multiple honors for historic preservation, creative redevelopment and community revitalization. These awards reflect not just our transformation of a landmark campus, but the broader impact of artists living, working and making a desert town come alive again.
Multi Family Executive Award of Merit of the Year Adaptive Reuse
Curley School Artsan Apartments
ISDA with Enterprise Community Investment
National Association for County, Community, and Economic Development
Excellence in Economic Development
The Curley School Artisan Apartments by ISDA
Pima County Department of Community Development and Neighborhood Development
Southwest Contractor McGraw Hill Construction
Best of 2007 Renovation/Restoration Project
The Curley School Project
The Tucson-Pima County Historical Commission
Historic Preservation Certificate
Tracy Taft for leadership in preservation of the Curley School
Sonoran Institute 2008 Building from the Best
Creative Redevelopment and Rehabilitation Award
Curley School Artisan Apartments, ISDA
2008 Grand Winner of the Governor's Heritage Award
By Governor Janet Napolitano
ISDA & The Architecture Company
National Trust for Historic Preservation HUD Secretary's 2008
Award for Excellence in Historic Preservation
The Curley School Project
International Sonoran Desert Alliance
Pima County Government
The Architecture Company
Tucson Building and Remodeling
Compass Behavioral Health Care, Inc. Dynamic Duo Art Impact
Tracy Taft & Jim Wilcox
The Curley School Project
Ajo's Curley School was announced as the Grand Prize Winner during the Sixth Annual Statewide Historic Preservation Partnership Conference
FUNDING SOURCES
The Curley School project has been made possible through the shared vision, trust and generous support of many persons and agencies, among them regional foundations, county, state and federal programs, community contributions and historic preservation trusts. We are enormously grateful to the following:
Enterprise Community Investment
U.S. Department Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
National Park Service
Tohono O'odham Nation
The State of Arizona Department of Housing
Arizona State Parks
Arizona Heritage Fund
Arizona State Historic Preservation Office
Pima County Board of Supervisors
Pima County Community Development & Neighborhood Conservation Dept
Pima County Cultural Resources & Historic Preservation Office
Rural Community Assistance Corporation
National Bank of Arizona
Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco Affordable Housing Program with The Bank of Tucson
National Trust for Historic Preservation
Arizona Community Foundation
Community Foundation for Southern Arizona
PRO Neighborhoods
The Christensen Fund
Donations and contributions from numerous individuals and families.
Special thanks to Artspace Projects, Inc. for ongoing inspiration and technical assistance.
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