ASU will begin construction in two to three months on 324 “green” apartments to be built surrounding ASU Skysong’s 1,000-space parking garage in Scottsdale.

The complex will abide by Scottsdale’s green building code and the Scottsdale green building requirements for a multifamily facility, said Don Couvillion, vice president for real estate at the ASU Foundation.

The apartments will employ high-efficiency lighting and air conditioning, high-quality windows with greater insulation capacities than required and a better plumbing system, among a variety of green measures, Couvillion said.

The idea for the apartments was initially envisioned in 2006 and construction will begin later this year after the foundation receives its building permit, Couvillion said.

“We had always conceived Skysong as being a place where people can work and live,” he said. “And that to realize its full promise, Skysong has to be a multiuse project where people can work and live.”

According to its Web site, Skysong is home to specialized programs for students in entrepreneurship, applied engineering research, educational technology and an innovation center, which includes arts, media and engineering.

Couvillion said several complaints had arisen from neighbors in the beginning of the planning process but were resolved when the foundation said it had not planned to build dormitories but a “high-quality” apartment complex.

“I think once we got the project out in front of them and showed them what kind of quality project we had in mind, we didn’t have any problem winning them over,” Couvillion said.

A $46 million price tag is attached to the project. Funds for the garage and apartments will be provided by USA Real Estate Co., Skysong’s partner in the establishment. The complex will be designed by Todd & Associates and built by MT Builders, Couvillion said.

The foundation plans to open the first 80 units in late 2009 and continue opening more every three months until the complete 324 units are open to the public, Couvillion said.

The apartments will include 600-square-foot one-bedroom units up to 1,300-square-foot units with three bedrooms.

In addition, Couvillion said, the complex will have a number of amenities including the parking garage, a swimming pool, a clubhouse, a business center, a fitness center and a sundeck.

Couvillion said that the apartments would cater to a large target audience but would mostly comprise of professionals or retailers who work in the area as well as ASU faculty, staff and students.

Michele Irwin, a spokeswoman for Skysong developers, said in an e-mail, “I know it will be a very attractive project and an obvious choice for employees working for companies at Skysong.”

Several students from the Edson Student Entrepreneurship Initiative at Skysong said they thought the apartments would be a good place to live while going to school and working at facility.

Max Yuan, an electrical engineering graduate student said he thought the apartments would be a good addition because of the proximity to the Skysong building.

“I can get to work every day, and then I can go back to my apartment and then to the Skysong office,” Yuan said. “It will be convenient to me, other entrepreneurs and people with similar interests.”

He added that he would prefer living in a “green” apartment complex to any others.

Margaret Schrader, a former student from the program and an operations manager at the SkyCafe, said she would be very interested in living in the apartments, although thinks that the rent may be too high for her to pay.

“It’s a good location, it’s near to work and you can’t offer anything better,” Schrader said. “If it’s affordable, I think it would be a great fit for students.”

She said she thought the fact that the apartments are going to be green could potentially pull a lot of students in.

“Green is the new thing, apparently,” Schrader said. “That’s what everyone is talking about because it is the future.”

Reach the reporter at allison.gatlin@asu.edu.