Razing the Bar—Literally: New Office Marries Preservation and Purpose

Former Phoenix bar finds new life as law office

Leading Arizona land use and zoning law firm Withey Morris Baugh is excited to showcase its newly finished Biltmore-area office, a well-executed adaptive reuse of the former Half Moon Windy City Sports Grill on Highland Avenue. The firm paid homage to the building’s libacous past, while reimagining the building into client-ready meeting spaces, collaborative zones and employee amenities that raise the bar on today’s modern office. The project reflects an elevated approach to repositioning an existing structure—retaining key architectural elements while aligning the building with premium office standards and employee amenity areas.

The new office pairs function with character. Custom furniture throughout and distinctive design elements help tell the story of the firm and its connection to place. Among the most eye-catching features is a 20’ tall mural of metro Phoenix painted by local artist Jane Goat, along with an intimate speakeasy and a putting green, making an office unlike any other.

Rather than a wholesale redevelopment, the firm pursued a targeted conversion strategy that kept defining features of the original space—most notably the bar. The result is a built example of how existing improvements can be repurposed to meet modern use demands without sacrificing character or incurring the full costs and timelines associated with ground-up development.

This project underscores the firm’s deep experience navigating the legal and regulatory frameworks that govern adaptive reuse, including zoning compliance, parking adjustments, building code considerations, and permitting pathways. It also demonstrates how thoughtful design and strategic entitlement positioning can resolve the constraints older properties present.

“This building already had a story. We just got to write the next chapter. That’s the kind of work we love — honoring what came before, solving for what’s needed now and leaving the place better for what comes next.” said founding partner Jason Morris.

Partner Adam Baugh added, “Our practice is grounded in finding creative solutions within complex situations. This office reflects that philosophy. It’s a case study in what can be achieved through coordinated land use planning and execution. By letting the past be visible we show how law, clever planning and design can work together in real projects.”

Located adjacent to the WaterView campus, the project reflects a broader trend toward adaptive reuse in infill areas. By balancing preservation with modernization, the office illustrates how such projects can meet current market demands while respecting the built environment.

The interior integrates legacy materials and textures with contemporary finishes and technology-enabled meeting spaces, mirroring the firm’s multidisciplinary practice across land-use and zoning, real estate law, and government relations. The speakeasy serves as a focal point—an intentional design decision that reinforces the project’s underlying theme: that regulatory and physical constraints, when properly navigated, can become defining assets.

Project partners include architecture firms Plus Minus Studios (architecture), Mancini Duffy and Civitas Studios (interior design) and V&P Nurseries (landscaping). 

About Withey Morris Baugh

For over 25 years, Withey Morris Baugh has been Arizona’s leading land use and real estate law firm. Its dynamic team combines experience in land use entitlements, real estate transactions, government affairs, and lobbying with the sharp legal insight needed to handle every aspect of the real estate development process.