Arizona State University Polytechnic campus is one of four campuses of Arizona State University. Founded as ASU East, the campus opened in fall 1996 on the former Williams Air Force Base in southeast Mesa, Arizona.HistoryThe campus opened with nearly 1,000 students enrolled in one of the eight degrees offered. The campus started with two schools — the School of Technology and the School of Management and Agribusiness. East College was added in 1997 as an incubator for new professional programs.More than 8,000 students are enrolled in 40 degree programs based on the campus. ASU shares around 600acre at Power and Williams Field roads with Chandler-Gilbert Community College, Mesa Community College, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, a United States Air Force research laboratory, a Veteran's Administration Clinic (moved, now ASU Preparatory academy for PK-8), ASU Preparatory Academy High School, and the Silvestre Herrera Army Reserve Center. These entities make up what is known as the Williams Campus.In July 2005, the campus changed its name from ASU East to ASU's Polytechnic campus to better reflect the mission of the programs at the campus. Programs such as the new interdisciplinary Bachelor of Science in Engineering continue to be developed, offering students even more practical degree choices.In the Fall 2008 semester a major expansion project at the campus was completed and open to students in the form of the new Polytechnic Academic Complex. It is located in the heart of campus and combines new student housing with classrooms and administrative offices in an open air building environment. The three new buildings cost a combined $103 million and cover 240000sqft. It was built by main contractor DPR and designed by RSP Architects (Architect-of-Record) in collaboration with Sam Luitio-based Lake|Flato (Design Architect) and is a LEED v2.2 Gold certified project.
