Shovels were in the ground recently for what will be a 16,258 m2 (175,000 sf), five-story facility, home to Arizona State University’s (ASU’s) new medical and engineering school in downtown Phoenix. The ASU Health Headquarters building will house the John Shufeldt School of Medicine and Medical Engineering and the new School of Technology for Public Health.
General contractor McCarthy Building Companies, with design partners CO Architects and DFDG Architects, joined university and state leaders for the groundbreaking on April 9.
Construction is scheduled for completion in summer 2028, with the first group of students expected to begin classes that fall.
Initial sitework includes utility relocation, demolition, and ground improvements to prepare for foundation construction. The project team, which is expected to reach 300 workers at peak construction, is also working closely with the city to reduce traffic and pedestrian disruptions throughout the build.
According to a news release, the building will “support the school’s goals for workforce development, public health, and innovation.” Planned facilities include a simulation center with mock operating and emergency rooms, interdisciplinary simulation and standardized patient suites, a virtual skills lab featuring augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR) training, study areas, a library, and dedicated research space.
ASU Health Headquarters will also provide community programs that provide public access to health education and resources.
“Our most important responsibility is to deliver a highly reliable, exceptionally built facility that enables ASU to advance its vision from day one,” says Carlos Diaz, project executive with McCarthy Building Companies.
The building is designed to adapt to the future challenges of healthcare, says Jenna Knudsen, managing principal of CO Architects.
