The BYU Board of Trustees has approved plans for a new administration building, expected to be finished in spring 2028, with operations starting in fall 2028.
University employees and departments previously housed in the old Abraham O. Smoot Administration Building have already begun moving to temporary locations in anticipation of its demolition.
Aaron Sorenson, director of internal communications for BYU, said the primary motivation for the new building is the aging condition of the original facility.
“It has kind of reached the end of its life in terms of operation,” Sorenson said.
He noted that the original building has experienced some mechanical and electrical issues in recent years.
Sorenson said a key feature of the new building will be its expanded office space, which will allow a few new offices to move into the administration building.
Sorenson specifically highlighted Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) as one of these offices. Other offices that will likely occupy the building include Enrollment Services, Registration, Scholarships, University Communications, Student Life, Human Resources and Residence Life and Housing.
Sorenson believes that consolidating these services into a central location will enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of student support operations.
“All of the offices in the new administration building … (are) to benefit students,” Sorenson said. “Having new, nice facilities for them is going to help make everyone’s job easier and at the end of the day help serve the students at BYU.”
This new building is one example of BYU’s recent effort to update and restore older buildings on campus. The old Harris Fine Arts Center, which was built in 1964 — 3 years after the Smoot Building — was recently torn down to be replaced by a new arts building in the same location.
Sorenson said this project reflects BYU’s effort to invest in the campus experience for both students and faculty.
“When I see these new buildings being built … I get really excited about it because it means that BYU is planning for the future,” Sorenson said. “We’re not going anywhere.”
Leah Gale, a student employee in the University Communications main office, has worked in the Smoot building for almost a year and recently relocated to East Campus in anticipation of the demolition.
Gale said she is excited for the new building and hopes it will provide a suitable place to host important university guests.
“I think this new building will help us better welcome people who do good in the world to campus and see what we bring to the world,” Gale said.