Arizona State University Walter Cronkite School of Journalism & Mass Communication
Completion Date: August 2008
Client: City of Phoenix and Arizona State University
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Program: A six-story 223,000-square-foot academic building located in downtown Phoenix. This new building is located near a light rail station that connects the downtown Arizona State University campus to its main campus in Tempe, Arizona. The ground floor contains retail spaces, while the upper floors house classrooms and offices. The sixth floor includes a newsroom, production space, and control rooms.
Design concept and solution: The design is intended to express the role of journalism in today’s society. The exterior features glass, masonry, and, on the upper portion of the building, a patchwork of multi-colored metal panels meant to resemble the radio spectrum. Sunscreens on the facades help reduce heat loads and are one of the project’s many sustainable strategies. The facility’s main entrance includes a large electronic news ticker with current headlines. At the building’s heart is the multi-tiered First Amendment Forum, a gathering place. Students circulate through the forum by day; at night, it is transformed into a public hall. The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution is a theme repeated throughout the building, with text from the amendment displayed on each floor. A prefabricated lightweight steel structure was designed for the top level, which has the long spans and high ceilings needed for T.V. studios.
Gross square footage:
223,000 sq. ft.
Site size:
289,488 sq. ft.
Total construction cost:
$55 million
Design Architect:
Ehrlich Architects
10865 Washington Blvd
Culver City, California 90232
T: 310-838-9700
F: 310-838-9737
www.ehrlicharchitects.com
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