The Housing Authority of the City of El Paso (HACEP) recently completed a $52 million major renovation in 2021 that includes retail spaces, offices, and low-income apartments.

[5] Upon its completion in 1954, the building was considered a "showcase of the latest in industrial construction" by the El Paso Times.

[7] A unique feature of the building is the 21 foot high flame-like structure made of plexiglass and constructed by the Federal Sign and Signal Company.

[7] The lobby, opening out to Texas Street depicted illustrations of El Paso Natural Gas Company work.

[14] The large flame-like structure on the top of the building was first tested in March 1955 and finally turned on permanently a week later.

[24] Instead, in 1996, the El Paso Independent School District (EPISD) accepted the building as a gift from Southern Union Gas.

[26] However in 2000, EPISD superintendent, Gilberto Anzaldua, planned to move the employees out of the building and sell it for an appraised value of $4 million.

[30] In 2006, El Paso businessman, Paul Foster, purchased the building in a package deal.

[31] By 2018, the Housing Authority of the City of El Paso (HACEP) had started working on renovating the building to support offices and low-income apartments.

[32] On February 13, 2018, the Blue Flame Building was designated a landmark on the National Register of Historic Places.