Construction on the brand-new student union is underway at ASU East, with the new union facing the center building and replacing the parking lot and housing office that were recently demolished.
Among other attributes, the union will have a modern food court, student lounge space with a large-screen television, dining seating with built-in computer stations, a bookstore and a convenience store.
"One of the greatest needs East campus has is to have a social center for students and faculty. It is going to be the place where everyone comes together," said Jeremy Art, a professional golf management major who is also working to pass a new student constitution at East.
Students, faculty and administrators from Main and East campuses attended the ceremony for the official groundbreaking held Sept. 17.
The projected budget of $5.4 million will mainly come from Proposition 301 sales tax revenue and additional funds from the ASU bookstore.
Mike Mader, director of student activities and core member of the union planning committee, said, "This is a multicampus initiative; we had input from all the [ASU] campuses in creating this union. It is very rewarding to have worked with all the user groups, focus groups and open forums. We got student feedback and responded to their needs."
When asked what the most difficult aspect of designing the union was, Mader said that "we dream bigger than we can afford.
"We had to cut some things out," he said. For example, "the landscaping is unfunded."
ASU will be asking the community for donations to fund the landscaping at the southeast and main entrances to the new union, Mader said. Some of their methods include purchasing a personally engraved 4-by-8-inch brick for $150 or an 8-by-8-inch brick for $300.
Administrative staff, including Toni-Ann Aguirre, executive assistant to the office of the provost, is in charge of selling the bricks, which can be purchased in the administration building.
On the process of the planning the union, Karrie Hixon, a senior in the multimedia writing and technical communications program, said, "Everyone worked really hard on it, and [administrators on the union committee] made efforts to reach out to students to get their opinions." Hixon is employed in the current union, which was also once the officer's club.
During the beginning of the ceremony and speeches, Provost Chuck Backus discussed his and President Crow's shared "polytechnic" mission for East and said Crow "just wants it done faster."
President Crow said "polytechnic" means there is a "technical thread running through all majors [offered at East]."
He said 20,000 students are expected to attend ASU East in the near future. He also called the new union "the beginning of a new construction process; it will get larger."
It is the first building ASU East has constructed for full-time use by faculty and students since the campus opened in 1996. All but two others are renovated Air Force facilities.
Existing xeriscape landscaping inspired the unique design of the union, and it has glass garage doors that will expand activities outdoors when weather permits, according to the press release.
Graphic and Web design coordinator Steve Mindel is in charge of posting a Web site where people can track the progress and view current photos of the construction of the union.
The new union is scheduled to open in August 2004.
Reach the reporter at camardella@asu.edu.
