Allowing ASU to meet the state’s growing demand for higher education through increased enrollment and new and innovative programs is one of the main goals of the new campus. Gazzaniga says the university “desires to become a magnet to educators, scientists, researchers and artists who are seeking amenities associated with a major urban center.”
A vibrant university in downtown Phoenix is also part of the city’s larger plan: revitalize and redevelop Phoenix’s urban core. ASU President Michael Crow, Ph.D., distills ASU’s mission into three words: quality, access, impact. “Our downtown campus provides high quality education and greater access to students who are either just graduating from high school or working adults achieving their educational goals,” he says.
When asked what could be an obstacle to obtaining these goals, Gazzaniga is quick to restate the word “obstacle” as a “challenge. The main challenges we are working to overcome include meeting the intense and rapid timeline to complete the second phase of the campus by fall 2008 and maintaining the project is within budget.”
The completed first phase includes courses offered through the College of Public Programs, University College and College of Nursing and Healthcare Innovation. Enrollment will grow from 2,500 students at present with 250 beds available in student housing to 7,500 students with 1,800 beds when Phase II is completed in August 2008. Second phase will relocate the Cronkite Journalism School and Channel Eight KAET. When the final phase is complete by August 2020, there will be 15,000 enrolled students, approximately 1,800 faculty and staff members and 4,000 beds in student housing.
The 2004 Elliott Pollack Economic Impact Study indicates the downtown campus will provide $1.7 billion to the economy, produce 7,700 university and private sector jobs, pay $281 million in wages annually and generate $34 million in annual tax revenues to Arizona, Maricopa County and Phoenix.
“The vitality of the city is dependent upon attracting new businesses, residents and visitors to its array of cultural offerings,” says Gazzaniga. “In partnership with the city, we can help revive its historic, urban core and neighborhoods by sparking new business and development. This impact will be noticed in both the retail and residential areas as people will live, work, learn and play downtown. The city of Phoenix will soon have a 24/7 vibrant urban core.”
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SU and the city of Phoenix are teaming up to create an urban campus that is integral to downtown Phoenix, says Anne Gazzaniga, director of planning studies for Arizona State University. The campus opened in August last year and is located in the heart of downtown Phoenix between Fillmore Street and Van Buren and First Avenue and Third Street, within minutes from shopping, entertainment, professional arts, music venues and sports stadiums.
