Interdisciplinary Science and Technology Building 12 breaks ground at Arizona State University’s Polytechnic Campus

The new $185 million Interdisciplinary Science and Technology Building 12 (ISTB12) project recently broke ground at Arizona State University’s (ASU) Polytechnic campus in Mesa, Ariz. The ISTB12 building, designed by SmithGroup and being constructed by McCarthy Building Companies (McCarthy), is a major expansion of ASU’s growing Polytechnic campus in and moves forward the university’s developing Innovation Research District adjacent to the campus.  

This new multi-level research and education building will provide a centralized location for Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering’s new School of Manufacturing Systems and Networks at ASU’s Polytechnic campus. The state-of-the-art ISTB12 builds on Polytechnic’s long-standing reputation as a solutions-focused hub for engineering and technology education, research and collaboration. 

“ISTB12 is ASU’s largest single capital investment on the Polytechnic campus," said Alex Kohnen, ASU's Facilities Development and Management vice president. "This state-of-the-art advanced manufacturing research and educational center will be a gateway between our future innovation zone and our existing campus as ASU continues to support Arizona’s new economy initiatives.”

The 173,194-square-foot building will consist of three floors and 128,828 programmable square feet for office, meeting, instructional, research and collaboration spaces to prepare students to contribute to engineering solutions for societal challenges. 

The project will support the needs of faculty and students with specific spaces and labs specializing in additive manufacturing, robotics for smart manufacturing and industry automation, cyber manufacturing and operations research, semiconductor manufacturing, and manufacturing systems for the energy sector.

“After completing the ambitious ISTB7 project on ASU’s Tempe campus last year, our collaborative project team is eager to bring another high-performance research facility to ASU, this time to the Polytechnic campus,” said Carlos Diaz, project director for McCarthy Building Companies. “Our laboratory construction team is working with university and project partners to build another state-of-the-art facility that Sun Devils will be proud of for years to come.” 

ISTB12 is the latest among dozens of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) projects underway or recently completed on ASU campuses. Sustainability features include rainwater collection for site landscaping as well as solar-ready infrastructure. The project is expected to meet ASU sustainability goals by achieving LEED Silver certification. 

 “ISTB12 creates not only a new gateway for the campus itself, but also a powerful physical and symbolic connection to a future Innovation District that will capitalize on industry partnerships and collaborations,” said Mark Kranz, design director for SmithGroup.

“The three-story U-shaped design is connected by a ‘collaboration bridge’ that creates a shaded courtyard and breezeway at the Terrapin Mall, one of the campus’ main pedestrian thoroughfares. The project’s materiality complements and elevates the campus’ existing iconic architectural character with highly articulated metallic panels, concrete masonry units, low-E glazing and calibrated shading elements.”

Completion is scheduled for November 2025. Trade partners on the project include WOODPATEL, PK Associates, Speedie & Associates as well as additional integrated design services being performed by SmithGroup, including MEP engineering, lab planning and landscape architecture.

McCarthy Building Companies also constructed the $192 million, 231,854-square-foot ISTB7 on ASU’s main campus, which was completed in spring 2022 and received LEED Platinum certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. 

About McCarthy Building Companies 

McCarthy is the oldest privately held national construction company in the country – with nearly 160 years spent collaborating with partners to solve complex building challenges on behalf of its clients. With an unrelenting focus on safety and a comprehensive quality program that spans all phases of every project, McCarthy utilizes industry-leading design phase and construction techniques combined with value-add technology to maximize outcomes. Repeatedly honored as a Best Place to Work and Healthiest Employer, McCarthy is ranked the 19th largest domestic builder (Engineering News-Record, May 2023). With approximately 6,000 salaried employees and craft professionals, the firm has offices in St. Louis; Atlanta; Collinsville, Ill.; Kansas City, Kan.; Omaha, Neb.; Phoenix; Las Vegas; Denver; Austin, Channelview, Dallas, and Houston, Texas; and San Diego, Newport Beach, Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose and Sacramento, Calif. McCarthy is 100% employee owned. More information about the company is available online at www.mccarthy.com or by following the company on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram.

About SmithGroup 

SmithGroup is one of the world’s preeminent integrated design firms. Working across a network of 20 offices in the U.S. and China, a team of 1,300 experts is committed to excellence in strategy, design, and delivery. The scale of the firm’s thinking and organization produces partnerships with forward-looking clients that maximize opportunities, minimize risk and solve their most complex problems. SmithGroup creates exceptional design solutions for healthcare, science and technology organizations, higher education and cultural institutions, urban environments, diverse workplaces, mixed-use and waterfront developments, and parks and open spaces.