University Club celebrates 20 years

December 04, 2007

It’s said that good things come to those who wait.<separator></separator>And the ASU community certainly waited a long time to have a University Club on the Tempe campus.<separator></separator>The idea for a faculty club was first tossed around in the 1960s, but it did not come to fruition until the late 1980s.<separator></separator>From 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., Dec. 5, the University Club will celebrate its 20th anniversary with a festive party at the club.<separator></separator>The party, which will double as the club’s annual holiday event, will include a variety of hors d’oeuvres served throughout the evening, a champagne toast, anniversary cake and a brief talk by Jerry Atwood, who was the renovation project manager, at 6:15 p.m.<separator></separator>The University Club occupies what once was Science Hall, which was constructed in 1908 as part of Tempe Normal School. In 1949, the building, which is the second-oldest on campus, was remodeled and renamed the Fine Arts Annex. It was placed on the National Register and the Arizona Register of Historic Places in 1987.<separator></separator>After a major remodel and upgrade, the building opened as the University Club, short of the targeted number of charter members, but still deemed a success.<separator></separator>With its dark wood, sweeping staircase, and historical restoration, the club is a cozy place for lunches, special events or meetings.<separator></separator>“People are impressed with the architecture of the building,” says Debi Smith, the University Club’s manager. “It makes them feel special.”<separator></separator>During the academic year, the University Club is buzzing with events.<separator></separator>“We host three colloquia a semester, our holiday party, Easter and Mother’s Day brunches and Valentine’s Day dinner, and next year we plan to have tailgate parties at every home game,” Smith says.<separator></separator>There also are occasional weddings at the club, and numerous private events.<separator></separator>Membership is open to ASU faculty, staff, retirees and alumni, as well as community members and corporations.<separator></separator>One-time membership fees range from $25 for ASU graduates who have been members of the Alumni Association for six months or less, to $625 for corporations (one to five members). Faculty, staff, alumni and those 75 years or older pay a $100 membership fee.<separator></separator>Monthly dues range from $8 to $65, depending on the membership category.<separator></separator>For more information on the club, call (480) 965-0700.

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