After nearly a one-month delay, ASU West broke ground on its first student residence hall Tuesday.
"We are taking West into the next step to intensify developments on campus," said ASU President Michael Crow of the $15-million, state-of-the-art dormitory.
The hall, which is yet to be named, will lie just northwest of the campus on Thunderbird Road, on a 6.5-acre lot.
If campus living works at West, more residence halls may be constructed in the future, as there is additional land adjacent to the current construction site for expansion.
The hall will consist of 108 units with approximately 394 beds. There will be a kitchen in each unit and an outdoor swimming pool.
"West has all the pieces to grow into a college campus…of national distinction," Crow said. "We must take on the responsibility to build a learning environment [to provide] a close linkage for students, which is an essential part of success."
Elaine Maimon, West provost and vice president, said she looked forward to seeing the finished product, which is scheduled for August 2003.
"I look at this empty piece of land and think, 'this August, we will have a beautiful facility,'" Maimon said. "This development will connect students because they study together and they will find joy in that connection."
Glendale Mayor Elaine Scruggs and City Council members were present at the ceremonial groundbreaking to congratulate the school and to be recognized for their involvement in the process of getting the hall started. The mayor and several members of the council supported the idea of on-campus living and pushed for it to be carried out.
President of the Associated Students of ASU at West campus, Yolanda Sanchez, said the residence hall would better serve the growing needs of their students.
"Our students are looking for more than a place to live, but a place to grow and nurture their academic development," Sanchez said.
Though only a few of the near 60 onlookers present at the groundbreaking were students, those who did attend seemed enthusiastic about the prospect of on-campus living.
Cassandra Walker, management sophomore, said if the hall been there when she started school, she would have taken the option to live in it.
"I think it's a wonderful idea," Walker said. "However, I am worried how it will change the atmosphere. I don't want it to turn into Mill [Avenue]. If the focus is really on living and learning, it will be great."
Reach the reporter at jennifer.summers@asu.edu.
