Arizona State University – Fusion on First

Studio Ma designed Arizona State University’s Fusion on First residential college, an arts incubator and creative hub, to connect students with professional opportunities and contribute to the city’s cultural district revitalization. This public-private partnership challenges conventional assumptions about developer-led projects.

In collaboration with ASU faculty and administration, Studio Ma designed a downtown Phoenix home for the Herberger Institute of Design & the Arts. This residential academic community aims to cultivate long-lasting careers in creative fields, fulfilling ASU’s 2025 Housing Master Plan. By locating the arts college in a cultural district, students at Herberger gain early exposure to professional interactions and build a supportive network for postgraduation success. Locating the Herberger Institute in downtown Phoenix enhances ASU’s Phoenix campus and acts as a catalyst for revitalizing the cultural district.

The Fusion on First complex is divided into zones, transitioning from public areas to studios, classrooms, residences, and amenities. Collaborative spaces are strategically placed along an east-west spine to encourage spontaneous interactions. Exhibition and performance spaces in a low-rise wing create a connection between emerging entrepreneurs and the public realm, while the vertical axis of the building serves as a hub linking groundfloor programs with housing and studios. The central stair court forms the heart of the innovation hub, with students residing in the adjoining high-rise tower.

Studio Ma extensively modeled the building to optimize energy efficiency and quality of life in the urban desert environment. Daylight optimization reduced heat gain, glare, and energy use. Collaboration with the developer and builder led to a final bioclimatic design with self-shading overhangs, northeast-oriented glazing, southwest-oriented opaque walls, and screened glazing on the south façade. The façade was evaluated using simulation software developed in partnership with MIT. To expedite construction and reduce costs, we designed building elements that could be prefabricated off-site.