Mesa is angling for a bigger slice of Arizona State University’s presence downtown, and city leaders are not thinking small. On Thursday, they unveiled a concept that centers on a city-backed $25 million technology building for ASU, paired with public-space upgrades and a new mixed-use tower meant to pull more students, startups and nighttime foot traffic into the city’s core.
What the City Pitched
The proposal hinges on three big pieces: a $25 million tech-focused building tailored to ASU, an eight-story mixed-use tower, and a nearly one-mile, lighted and shaded pedestrian path the city is branding as a “light walk.” Renderings credited to design firm Gensler show how the pieces could fit together as part of a broader downtown “refresh,” according to the Phoenix Business Journal.
Where It Could Go
City officials have flagged several downtown properties as contenders for the new facilities, including the nearby federal post office, the library parking lot and the municipal building. Those options surfaced in council study sessions as staff and university planners sketched out possible locations, according to the Rose Law Group Reporter.
ASU’s Downtown Footprint
ASU already has a stake in downtown Mesa with its Media and Immersive eXperience (MIX) Center, which university coverage credits with jumpstarting nearby restaurants, housing and evening activity. ASU News notes that the MIX Center’s programming and community labs have become a significant draw for students and local entrepreneurs alike.
Why Officials Are Pitching It Now
City leaders say the new tech building, tied together with the planned lighted pathway, is designed to connect transit, campus life and retail into a more seamless experience. The goal is to make downtown easier to navigate for students and visitors and to boost evening crowds for restaurants and shops. Supporters frame the concept as the next step after earlier investments, aimed at capturing talent and companies linked to the region’s growing tech and manufacturing sectors.
For now, Mesa is calling the vision an early-stage concept. It would still need ASU’s formal approval, detailed design work and sign-off from the City Council before any construction starts. The Phoenix Business Journal reports that the city is actively pitching the package to ASU and potential private partners, with formal agreements and funding plans to follow if the university agrees to move ahead…