The El Cortez Apartments Renovation is a comprehensive interior and exterior modernization of an off-campus residential complex serving students of Phoenix College. Originally constructed in 1964, the three-story, 158-unit courtyard building was historically defined by dimly lit, double-loaded corridors that complicated wayfinding.

To resolve this, the design team implemented a strategic paint and flooring scheme using bold color-blocking to distinguish the building’s various wings. The intervention also introduced low-profile, vandal-resistant LED fixtures, significantly increasing illumination and establishing a modern identity while drastically improving energy efficiency. Carefully designed fin signs leant a sense of arrival and improved orientation by making unit numbers legible from a distance.  Notably, the project was successfully completed while the building remained continuously occupied, requiring meticulous coordination to minimize disruption to residents.