Sun Devil Fitness Complex West, Arizona State University

Glendale, AZ
Construction Cost: $18.5 million
Area / Square Feet: 66,000
Occupancy Date: January 2013

One of four wellness centers simultaneously constructed or expanded on four ASU campuses, the Sun Devil Fitness Complex at ASU West features 10,000 square feet devoted to fitness equipment, two multipurpose fitness studios, exterior exercise terraces, a three-lane track, a two-court gymnasium, two racquetball courts, an outdoor pool, and wellness spaces that include a demonstration kitchen, a fitness-assessment studio and three alternative-medicine studios.

ASU West has a very formal, Midwestern liberal arts college feel, with quads and buildings featuring red brick and colonnades. The recreation center was designed as a three-story volume to take advantage of dramatic views of nearby mountains and to create a “stack effect” that allows for passive heating and cooling, just one of the aspects of the building that led to its LEED Gold certification. The three-story plan also promotes inclusion while creating a variety of “fitness neighborhoods” for all types of exercisers.

Responding to one of the university’s primary objectives for the project, the design team worked closely with students on the building program and plan. The forward-thinking students of Arizona State saw that a robust recreation program would be an essential part of the college experience as the school continues its evolution from a commuter-focused campus.

Judge's Comments

"One of the inspirations for the clever organization of this complex is the face of an iPhone to create fitness neighborhoods. This is sensitively combined with architecture that reflects the campus vocabulary in a successful design."   — Anita Moran

"The concept of the building facade as a display case of fitness options overlooking a recreation field creates an impressive presence on campus that is sure to inspire and attract users to the facility."   — Chris Sgarzi

"The building integrates nicely into the landscape while bringing life to the larger interior activity spaces."   — Tom Poulos