Work on several high-profile construction projects at Arizona State University is set to accelerate in 2026, highlighted by two landmark developments that university leaders say will reshape academics, research and campus life for years to come.
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The lineup includes the new ASU Health building in downtown Phoenix and the John S. McCain III Library and Museum in Tempe. Additional projects range from student housing and arena renovations to laboratory upgrades and the university’s first 3D-printed structure.
University officials say the combined investment represents a long-term strategy to modernize infrastructure, support research growth and enhance the student experience across multiple campuses.
One of the most ambitious undertakings is the ASU Health building, a 200,000-square-foot facility planned for downtown Phoenix within the Phoenix Bioscience Core innovation zone. Construction is expected to begin in July and conclude before the fall 2028 semester.
With a project budget of approximately $200 million for construction and equipment, the building will house the new medical school, health research initiatives and public health technology programs.
“The unique thing about ASU Health is that the med school of the future is not defined. So we’re trying to define that as the train is moving and the tracks are being laid,” said Tim Smith, vice president for facilities development management at ASU.
“A lot of it will be tech driven. The augmented reality, virtual reality and ways that our students will learn are not the way that most traditional med schools have approached it.”
The facility is expected to incorporate advanced simulation environments, immersive learning technologies and flexible lab spaces designed to adapt as medical training evolves. Until the permanent building opens, ASU Health programs will temporarily operate out of the renovated Mercado building on the Downtown Phoenix campus, an $8 million project nearing completion.
Another signature project is the John S. McCain III Library and Museum, honoring the legacy of the late U.S. senator and war hero John S. McCain III. The 80,000-square-foot facility will include an immersive museum, library, lecture hall, café and multipurpose event spaces.
A ceremonial groundbreaking took place in January, with construction expected to begin in late spring and finish in fall 2028. The $187 million project will house McCain’s archives, which were donated to ASU in 2012 and will be digitized at the new site.
The museum is being built on the former Community Services Building site along Curry Road, replacing a structure originally constructed in 1963 as a tuberculosis hospital.
Together, the ASU Health building and McCain Library represent a major expansion of ASU’s academic and civic footprint in both downtown Phoenix and Tempe.
Beyond its two marquee projects, ASU is investing heavily in student-centered and research-driven upgrades across its campuses.
On the Polytechnic campus, which serves more than 6,100 students, the Student Union will undergo a $66 million renovation that will nearly double its size. The project will modernize dining and bookstore areas while adding lounges, classrooms and meeting rooms for student organizations. Construction is slated to begin this summer and wrap up next summer.
The Polytechnic campus will also see the addition of ASU’s first 3D-printed building — a 1,200-square-foot shade and market structure near the ISTB 12 facility. Developed in collaboration with Aramark, the structure will provide both a market and shaded space for students waiting at the campus shuttle stop.
Unlike traditional construction methods, the structure will be built using a large-scale printer that layers coils of concrete in a computer-programmed pattern, offering a glimpse into innovative building techniques that could shape future campus projects.
In Tempe, modernization continues at the Bateman Physical Sciences Center’s H-wing. The $115 million phased renovation will upgrade mechanical systems, infrastructure and laboratories originally built in 1991.
“We’re doing a lot of the infrastructure related to the mechanical equipment, a lot of the stuff behind the walls that most people don’t see,” Smith said.
“It’s going to give us 17 wet labs, 15 dry labs and 24 offices. So that really improves the efficiency and the modernization, which is the primary focus of this project,” he said.
Athletics facilities are also receiving a significant refresh. Desert Financial Arena, home to Sun Devils basketball, volleyball, gymnastics and wrestling, is undergoing a $100 million, three-year renovation. Initial upgrades include replacing more than 700 lower-bowl seats with padded versions featuring cupholders, installing 200 wider premium chairs and modernizing multimedia systems beneath the court.
“A lot of the infrastructure that goes under the court, for all the multimedia requirements like instant replay and broadcast capabilities, will be modernized this summer,” Smith said.
Additional improvements will include a new court, upgraded concession areas, renovated restrooms and locker rooms, a new video board, loge boxes and improved vertical access. Originally built in 1974, the arena is expected to gain a distinctly modern feel by the time renovations conclude in 2029.
Student housing is also being reimagined. Best, Irish and Hayden halls — aging residence buildings from the 1940s and 1950s — will be demolished to make way for a new residential complex near ASU Gammage and the Apache Parking structure. The first phase will deliver approximately 800 new beds by fall 2028, along with updated retail amenities such as a bookstore and campus marketplace.
“These are 1940s and 1950s-era buildings, so they’re pretty aged. And we’re looking at including a bookstore and campus marketplace in addition to the residential complex,” Smith said.
Collectively, the 2026 construction portfolio signals ASU’s continued expansion and modernization strategy, aligning academic innovation, student life enhancements and community engagement. As projects move from blueprint to groundbreaking, university leaders say the goal is not just growth — but building spaces that reflect the future of higher education in Arizona.
Originally reported by AZ Big Media.
