New amenities greet students at ASU's West campus

Along with the opportunity to grow intellectually and make new friends, students at Arizona State University’s West campus have a new space in the University Center Building to call their own as the 2009/10 academic year begins. The Devils’ Den student lounge and patio includes a Jamba Juice , student meeting rooms and an indoor-outdoor lounge area with a small stage/performance space. The 2,000-square-foot outdoor patio includes a water feature and a large fan that will help keep temperatures comfortable during the warmer months.

“We’re extremely pleased to offer our students additional space where they can gather, converse, work, relax and make connections with one another,” says Elizabeth Langland, ASU vice president and dean of the West campus-based New College of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences.

In addition to the new Devils’ Den space, the Student Health Services office on the West campus has expanded and now has double its original square footage. The larger area has created a much more welcoming space for students and Student Health Services staff, says Jeri Pounds, the facility’s manager.

“We have had students comment that ‘it looks like a real clinic now,’” Pounds says. “Our waiting area is much larger, so now we don’t have students lining up outside the door during peak times. We have gained two more exam rooms, which cuts down on the number of students who have to be in the waiting area. This is better both for privacy and for preventing the spread of infection. ... Ultimately these and other improvements will enable us to better serve the students.”

The West campus Bookstore has gained more than 2,400 square feet of retail, textbook and storage space. The Bookstore’s general-interest book section now surrounds a seating area near a large window overlooking the Devils’ Den outdoor patio. The expanded space also will provide room for the Bookstore to host more events.

Meanwhile, Café West, the main food service area on campus, has undergone a renovation. Among the new furnishings in Café West are booth-style seating and bar-stool seating with laptop plug-ins.

Members of the public wishing to visit the Jamba Juice, which is located on the north side of the University Center Building at 4701 W. Thunderbird Road, may park in metered parking spaces along the north side of campus.

Students, faculty and staff will hold an opening celebration in Devils’ Den on Thursday, Sept. 10, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Call (602) 543-5306 for more information about the event.