The Arizona State University Student Center project is an adaptive reuse of a building that opened in 1936 in what was then the outskirts of downtown Phoenix. Decades of use followed, including a stint as a U.S. post office. The building's current owner, ASU, selected the former loading dock, sorting room and adjacent maze-like basement for its new Student Engagement Center.
The building's multiple renovations over the years posed quality, schedule and craftsmanship challenges. Those past upgrades included layered mechanical and electrical system renovations as well as various flooring materials and structural elements. As team members tackled the ASU project, they were not completely certain what was available for use under the additions, so they finalized much of the interior design after demolition.