Renovations completed on historic ASU president’s cottage now used as creative writing center

PHOENIX — Visit the historic Piper Writer’s house at Arizona State University’s Tempe campus and you might notice a few changes.

The cottage is famous for nourishing the minds of writers through ASU’s Virginia G. Piper Center for Creative Writing. Before then, it hosted ASU presidents from 1907 to 1959.

The university recently wrapped up a renovation project that added a large, outdoor patio, according to a Wednesday news release from Willmeng Construction, which spearheaded the upgrades.

Willmeng Construction CEO James Murphy, an ASU graduate, said it was rewarding to lead renovations of the historic ASU creative writing center.

“The history of the Piper Writer’s House is truly remarkable and our team is proud to be able to add to that history,” Murphy said in the release. “Our work with ASU and the number of diverse projects we are working on with the university shows a continued commitment to innovation and a first-class learning experience.”

How will upgrades benefit ASU creative writing center?

With the new patio, university leaders at the center will be able to host performances, gatherings and workshops.

ASU Dean of Humanities Jeffrey Cohen said the renovations will improve the way the center serves current and aspiring writers.

“It is so wonderful to have a space like this that’s outdoors, that’s creative and that’s right on our campus as kind of the heart of the humanities community,” Cohen said in the release. “I know we will be using this space as a patio a lot, so to have it as a finished space and extension of the house just seems so meaningful and so right.”

Design of the outdoor space was handled by 4Line Studio. Part of Willmeng Construction’s renovation project included repurposing brick pavers from former walkways at the Alumni Lawn, which the company also recently renovated.  There’s also a steel shade structure to keep the new patio cool.

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