University Club celebrates 20 years

It’s said that good things come to those who wait.

And the ASU community certainly waited a long time to have a University Club on the Tempe campus.

The idea for a faculty club was first tossed around in the 1960s, but it did not come to fruition until the late 1980s.

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.

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.

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.

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.

With its dark wood, sweeping staircase, and historical restoration, the club is a cozy place for lunches, special events or meetings.

“People are impressed with the architecture of the building,” says Debi Smith, the University Club’s manager. “It makes them feel special.”

During the academic year, the University Club is buzzing with events.

“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.

There also are occasional weddings at the club, and numerous private events.

Membership is open to ASU faculty, staff, retirees and alumni, as well as community members and corporations.

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.

Monthly dues range from $8 to $65, depending on the membership category.

For more information on the club, call (480) 965-0700.