Construction crews are putting the finishing touches on BYU's new 200,000 square-foot technology and engineering building, which is set to open this fall. It is located on the south side of campus and sits near the site formerly occupied by the John A. Widtsoe Building, which was demolished in May and June of 2015. (Ty Mullen)
Engineering and technology students will move into a new engineering building this fall. No formal name has been announced for the 200,000 square-foot building, which has been under construction since May 2016.
The chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, civil engineering and computer and electrical engineering departments will expand from the Clyde Building to the new five-story building next door.
Computer engineering is a growing field, attracting more and more students. BYU needed to expand its facilities to serve these students, according to professors.
“Our research lab is currently very cramped, and we are out of room to support new students. The new building will allow us to provide adequate space to complete our research activities (including space for students),” said computer engineering professor Mike Wirthlin.
More space in the new building will allow more students to participate in research, an activity students and professors say is very important in their field.
“The building will have more space to accommodate the student demand we have; it allows some severely limited research groups to have additional space to pursue their research,” said another computer engineering professor, Brent Nelson.
Students say the new building will help boost their research productivity.
'This will create room for more student researchers, which will help increase the amount of work we can get done in a semester,' said computer engineering student Benjamin James.
Technology and engineering students will attend classes in both the new building and the Clyde, and the buildings will have connections at all above-ground levels.
The new building will include natural lighting, open collaborative spaces, engineering exhibitions and dedicated space for projects, according to the building’s website.
Quick facts about the building:
Construction time: 28 months
Total cost: $80 million
Building size: Five stories, 200,000 square feet
Space allocation:
38 percent — laboratories
27 percent — classrooms, project and hands-on learning spaces
22 percent — offices and student services
13 percent — student spaces (study areas, team meeting rooms, conference rooms)