Arizona State University celebrated the grand opening of the Student Pavilion Thursday night, the newest — and greenest — building on the Tempe campus. The pavilion is the first net zero energy building at ASU, meaning it uses no more energy than it creates.
The new building now houses the Undergraduate Student Government (USG), Council of Coalitions, and the Programming and Activities Board, and its sustainable practices have inspired the organizations to incorporate “green” practices in their own events.
“It’s really given us this awesome challenge of figuring out ‘How can we be sustainable at all of our events?’ and really think about the environment as we’re doing them,” said Kavitha Ramohalli, president of the Programming and Activities Board on the Tempe campus.
The grand opening included brief remarks from several speakers including USG President Brittany Benedict, ASU President Michael Crow, Black African Coalition President Navona Carter, and included a building blessing by the American Indian Coalition.
In addition, a ceremonial ribbon cutting took place, along with the announcement of the burial of a time capsule, to be opened in August 2067, 50 years after the building's opening.
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Visitors fill the entrance of the new ASU Student Pavilion during the grand opening Oct. 5 on the Tempe campus.
Photo by Deanna Dent/ASUNow
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Aundrea DeGravina (center), student regent and a psychology and political science senior, speaks with ASU President Michael Crow during the grand opening of the Student Pavilion.
Photo by Deanna Dent/ASUNow
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Programming and Activities Board students fill the entrance of the Student Pavilion during the grand opening.
Photo by Deanna Dent/ASUNow
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Visitors fill the entrance of the new ASU Student Pavilion during the grand opening on Tempe campus.
Photo by Deanna Dent/ASUNow
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Undergraduate Student Government President Brittany Benedict addresses guests during the grand opening of the Student Pavilion.
Photo by Deanna Dent/ASUNow
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ASU President Michael Crow greets students from different coalitions during the grand opening of the Student Pavilion.
Photo by Deanna Dent/ASUNow
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Undergraduate Student Government President Brittany Benedict shows ASU President Michael Crow the items that will be placed in a time capsule, during the grand opening of the Student Pavilion.
Photo by Deanna Dent/ASUNow
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The time capsule that will be kept for fifty years in the new ASU Student Pavilion and opened in August 2067.
Photo by Deanna Dent/ASUNow
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From left to right: ASU President Michael Crow, former USG President Jordan Davis, USG Brittany Benedict, Black African Coalition President Navona Carter, American Indian Coalition student Thosh Collins and Arizona Board of Regents Chair Bill Ridenour prepare to cut the ribbon to the main ballroom during the grand opening of the Student Pavilion.
Photo by Deanna Dent/ASUNow
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ASU President Michael Crow speaks with students from the American Indian Council during the grand opening of the Student Pavilion.
Photo by Deanna Dent/ASUNow
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