Arizona State University has renamed its West campus in Glendale as ASU West Valley to better reflect its position as a centerpiece of life in the fast-growing area.

The updated name was announced at the WESTMARC Best of the West awards dinner on at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale. WESTMARC, the Western Maricopa Coalition, is a public-private partnership of the 15 communities, the business community, and the educational sector in the West Valley.

ASU West Valley Vice Provost Todd Sandrin, who spoke at the event, noted that the campus is marking its 40th anniversary in 2024.

“The location may be the same but most everything else is different. It is remarkable how much things have grown on campus and around the Valley in four decades,” he said. “This is exactly why ASU tonight is renewing our commitment to the West Valley and investing in meaningful ways.”

The campus is located at 4701 W. Thunderbird Road.

In 1984, much of the land west of Interstate 17 was agricultural and sparsely populated. Now, the area is home to 1.8 million residents.

Sandrin said that the campus was known as West only because it was a geographic orientation — the campus was west of Tempe.

“But the evolution of the West campus calls for a refined name,” he said. “This dynamic place of cutting-edge learning, innovation and research is not simply west of the Tempe campus — it is a key centerpiece in the life of the West Valley.

“That’s why ASU West will now be called ASU West Valley. It’s a subtle change that conveys a big statement about the university’s place as a partner in the western area of Maricopa County.”

While the name is new, Sandrin said that the campus has already been making a big impact.

“Just as one example, ASU scientists were at the forefront of developing new COVID-19 tests that were deployed Valleywide. And our ASU West students, staff and faculty volunteered at nearby State Farm Stadium, where millions of vaccines were delivered to our West Valley neighbors,” he said.

Sandrin noted that the campus added three new schools and is constructing two buildings.

“A 500-bed residence hall will open in 2024 — it’ll be our third residence hall. And a new academic building will open in 2025,” he said.

ASU President Michael Crow spoke to the crowd via video.

“The West Valley is evolving at light speed — new communities, new designs, new industries, new ways of making things happen,” he said.

“It is one of the most important areas of economic and social development in the United States. We’re so happy that our ASU West Valley campus is evolving with the West Valley.

ASU West Valley Vice Provost Todd Sandrin announces the new name of the West campus during the WESTMARC Best of the West awards dinner on Thursday, …