John Sing Tang

Architect John Sing Tang, AIA

 

 

 

Search for John Sing Tang homes

 

For a custom John Sing Tang architect search, please email Jennifer Hibbard at Jennifer@TwinsAndCompany.com.

 

Not many people nowadays know who architect John Sing Tang, AIA is, but we at Twins & Co. Realty are here to change that. Back in his heyday, he was often referred to as “the famous John Sing Tang”. His designs were as coveted as the iconic Ralph Haver or Al Beadle, but Tang’s  fame seems to have all but vanished. His association with many local buildings was lost for decades and we want to bring attention back to his amazing mid-century modern designs, even the ones that are still featured in our online catalog thinks to services like indexsy.com.

John Sing Tang was a native of Arizona. He received his architecture degree in 1944 from Rice University. He was noted as the first Chinese-American architect in Arizona. Tang passed away in 1987.

 

Here is a catalog of his work, which we will be adding to,

as we are able to document more of his work locally.

 

Renowned architectural photographer, Julius Shulman, documented a finished John Sing Tang home in one of his Rancho subdivisions in Phoenix in 1951 © J. Paul Getty Trust. Getty Research Institute, Los Angeles (2004.R.10).  (photo from Getty Research Institute) 

 

 

Helsing’s at Central and Osborn designed (and co-owned by) by John Sing Tang (demolished)

 

( 1957 ) Melrose Bowl designed by John Sing Tang at 4327 N. 7th Ave (demolished)

 

Pecan Grove Elementary School in Yuma, AZ designed by John Sing Tang

 

( 1957 ) Central High School designed by John Sing Tang

 

(circa 1953) Wellton Grammar school in Wellton, AZ designed by John Sing Tang 

 

Gila Vista Jr. High in Yuma, AZ designed by John Sing Tang (possibly not the original building, but additions to it in 1957…maybe the dome?)

Gila Vista Jr in Yuma, AZ designed by John Sing Tang (possibly not the original building, but additions to it in 1957…maybe the dome?)

Gila Vista Jr in Yuma, AZ designed by John Sing Tang (possibly not the original building, but additions to it in 1957…maybe the dome?)

 

Palmcroft elementary school additions in 1957 in Yuma,AZ by John Sing Tang

Apartments in Phoenix:

Caribbean Apartments (now Condos) (1901 E. Missouri Ave.)

 

( 1962 ) Glen Mar Apartments (1134 E. Sierra Vista Dr.)

Arizona single-family detached subdivisions :

Westwood Terrace designed by John Sing Tang

 

( 1953 ) Rancho Grande designed by John Sing Tang

 

( 1951 ) Rancho Del Monte designed by John Sing Tang

 

( 1957 ) Del Monte Estates

 

Nixon Square designed by John Sing Tang

 

Sun View Estates designed by John Sing Tang

 

( 1956 ) Homes at 34th Ave and Glendale (subdivision name unknown)

 

 

Colonia Allegre (in Tucson) designed by John Sing Tang

 

 

Winterhaven (in Tucson) designed byJohn Sing Tang

 

( 1951 ) John Sing Tang homes in Tucson (subdivision unknown Lusk Homes)

 

( 1958 ) Pyle Estates

 

Office Buildings:

( 1964 ) 2200 N. Central Ave.  Arizona Land Title Building designed by John Sing Tang

 

( 1962 )  2701 N. 7th Ave. designed by John Sing Tang

 

Shopping Centers:

4747 N. Central Ave. designed by John Sing Tang

 

Central and Pierson shopping center designed by John Sing Tang:

 

Central Market #2 designed by John Sing Tang

 

Shopping center at 35th Ave/ Glendale designed by John Sing Tang (Demolished)

 

( 1954 ) Frontier Plaza (810 S. Scottsdale Rd- demolished) designed by John Sing Tang

 

( 1951 ) Better Made Potato Chips Plant by John Sing Tang at 3041 E. Van Buren St. (demolished)

 

Restaurants:

( 1955 ) 4812 N. 16th St Double J Ham N’ Buffet (demolished) designed by John Sing Tang

 

( 1958 ) Kerns Cafeteria 1730 E. McDowell Rd.

 

( 1958 ) Ding Ho (demolished) 

 

Custom homes:

” Party House ” at 3106 N. 15th Ave. designed by John Sing Tang

 

6740 W. Stallion (demolished) designed by John Sing Tang

 

( 1948 ) 502 W. Puget Ave. in Schneider Groves designed by John Sing Tang

 

( 1956-1958 ) Custom hillside home in Paradise Valley Country Club designed by John Sing Tang at 5054 E COTTONTAIL RUN RD, Paradise Valley AZ (when built the address was 7113 N. Tatum). This property has been sold as being built by Frank Lloyd Wright, but it is 100% a John Sing Tang residence, based on AIA 1962 biography linking him to the home and the articles below. 

How the house looks now (photos from ARMLS)

( 1952 ) 5960 E. Orange Blossom Ln. designed by John Sing Tang

Hotels/Motels

El Rancho Motel in Yuma designed by John Sing Tang

 

Silver Spur Motel in Yuma, AZ designed by John Sing Tang:

Silver Spur motel in Yuma, AZ by architect John Sing Tang

 

Hotel Oasis (Central and Cypress) designed by John Sing Tang

Designed, but I don’t think it was ever built

 

John Sing Tang was well-known for his “walls of glass”

 

Funny John Sing Tang vintage ad

 

 

Canterbury House designed by John Sing Tang, but I don’t believe it was ever built

 

John Sing Tang had a biographical feature in the 1956 AIA American Architects directory:

John Sing Tang had a biographical feature in the 1962 AIA American Architects directory:

John Sing Tang passed away in 1987