Scottsdale is a desert city in Arizona, located east of the state capital of Phoenix. It is renowned for its spas and golf courses, including TPC Scottsdale, as well as McDowell Sonoran Preserve, a desert landscape of hills, rock formations and cacti. Taliesin West, the former home and studio of architect Frank Lloyd Wright, is also nearby. The historic downtown area of Scottsdale has buildings from the 1920s and olive trees from the 19th century.
The city's business district on the western border is a hub for arts and crafts, featuring Arizona-inspired fashion alongside the latest offerings from Milan and Paris. During World War II, Scottsdale was home to a German prisoner of war camp at the intersection of Scottsdale and Thomas Roads in what is now Papago Park. The city also hosts the Scottsdale Jaycees Parada del Sol, an annual month-long event that has been held since 1954. Scottsdale Fashion Square is a major shopping destination with approximately 2 million square feet of luxury retail space. It showcases Old Town Scottsdale's lifestyle, as well as the more contemporary Marshall Way Arts District and the tourist-friendly Western-themed Old Town district with the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art.
In 1999, the school opened a second campus at Scottsdale Airpark to serve the business community north of Scottsdale. The downtown trolley runs through downtown Scottsdale, while the neighborhood trolley connects downtown to South Scottsdale neighborhoods and links up with Tempe's own free public circulator, Tempe Orbit on Roosevelt and Scottsdale Road. Notable regional hubs include Kierland Commons and Scottsdale Quarter in North Scottsdale, and Scottsdale Fashion Square in downtown Scottsdale, which is one of the 30 largest malls in the country and offers exclusive shopping experiences.
