Located at the center of the Arizona State University, Tempe campus, between the Memorial Union and Hayden Library, Memorial Union Plaza is a hub of student activity.

As part of its effort to increase the quality and intensity of programmed uses of its outdoor spaces, ASU has engaged a design team to completely redesign the plaza to provide outdoor areas for eating, gathering and socializing.

The proposed design features a collection of canopies clustered around raised planter beds of grass, plants and trees. A unique, warped elliptical form allows the canopies to be organized in multiple spatial configurations, making room for the trees and capturing the pedestrian flows through the space. Its saddle-shaped sectional profile provides an effective surface upon which to stretch a double-faced shade cloth (like a sock) over the tubular frame, providing the required amount of "dappled shade" for the students below.