Mountain States & SouthwestBest Projects2014

Award of merit Sports/Entertainment: ASUSun Devil Fitness Complex

The $20-million Arizona State University Downtown Phoenix Campus Sun Devil Fitness Complex—which connects to an existing YMCA facility—features weight and fitness rooms, multipurpose activity rooms, a gymnasium, elevated jogging track, lab/classroom spaces, locker rooms and support spaces. Construction of a 25-yd-long rooftop swimming pool, weighing an estimated 570,000 lb, posed a particular challenge for the project team since it is positioned directly above the gymnasium—not the ideal location for large, load-bearing columns. For the solution to this design dilemma, engineers opted to use 6.5-ft-high by 100-ft-long plate girders to span the gymnasium and support the pool. Sundt Construction completed the five-story project 21 days ahead of schedule and under budget.