Arizona State University has opened Tooker House, a 1,600-student residence hall in Tempe designated to house engineering students.
The university says the facility has been designed to immerse students in the engineering education experience.
“Innovation has a new home address at Tooker House,” says Kyle Squires, dean of the Fulton Schools of Engineering. “This mixed-use living and learning facility sets a new standard in engineering education and reflects the breadth and depth of the student experience at the largest engineering school in the nation.”
Two maker spaces equipped with 3-D printers and laser cutters provide collaborative areas where students can work on projects and develop new technologies.
The ceiling appears unfinished, but have been intentionally left exposed so students can see the inner workings of the structure, such ad where water lines and mechanical systems are.
Some residents of Tooker House are taking part in a technology program that provides participants with an Amazon Echo Dot, a hands-free, voice-controlled device that sends and receives messages, controls smart home devices, and provides information.
The program, with support from the Amazon Alexa team, is designed to enhance students’ experience by giving them touch-free access to information and services tailored to campus living.
Students also will have the opportunity to sign up for courses that teach new concepts focused on building voice-user interfaces with Alexa, Amazon’s digital assistant.
The university also will introduce an Arizona State-specific Alexa skill to enhance the campus experience for students, faculty, staff and alumni.
Other amenities in the residence hall include a full-service, 14,000-square-foot, 525-seat dining facility; a recreation center with modern student lounges, billiards and table tennis; a fitness center with cardio machines and strength equipment, and a convenience store. The laundry has Bluetooth-enabled washers and dryers that can notify students when cycles are complete.
The hall is a gated community with 24-hour campus security and front-desk services; live-in residential staff; and a courtyard with a sun deck and outdoor gathering pavilions.
Suites are furnished apartments with adjoining bathrooms, hardwood-style flooring, solar blackout shades, USB outlets and ceiling fans. The facility has enough bandwidth to accommodate four devices per resident. It has seven social lounges, seven study lounges and six academic success centers.
Video from Arizona State:
