Located in Tucson’s Mercado District, this research-driven architectural project explores the relationship between water, public life, and the city’s evolving cultural landscape. The project integrates a water research laboratory, public market, and accessible water resources including refill stations, public baths, and showers. Rooted in research surrounding the Santa Cruz River, the design examines Tucson’s histories of Indigenous water use, agricultural development, minority relocation, gentrification, and the ongoing struggle for equitable access to water. By making water collection, research, conservation, and reuse visible within the architecture, the project positions water not only as essential infrastructure, but as a lens through which Tucson’s history, communities, and future resilience can be understood.