Founded as ASU East, the campus opened in fall 1996 on the former Williams Air Force Base in southeast Mesa.

ASU shares around 600 acres (2.4 km2) at Power and Williams Field roads with Chandler–Gilbert Community College, Mesa Community College, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, a United States Air Force research laboratory, Arizona State University Preparatory Academy for PK-8), Polytechnic High School, and the Silvestre Herrera Army Reserve Center.

In the Fall 2008 semester a major expansion project at the campus was completed and open to students in the form of the new Polytechnic Academic Complex.

It is located in the heart of campus and combines new student housing with classrooms and administrative offices in an open air building environment.

The Barrett Honors College provides academically-intensive programs and courses for undergraduate students meeting select criteria.

[10] The College of Technology and Innovation (CTI) was an academic unit at the Polytechnic campus.

[12] The ASU Desert Villages are made up of apartment style houses located on the outside edges of campus.

[15] The villages are run by ASU Housing and the front desk fis located at Quad 3.