BYU Updates High School for Temporary Program Housing

Brigham Young University has begun "minimal" construction on a former Provo high school campus that the Utah institution purchased in 2016. The slightly remodeled building, part of a 25-acre site, will house some units from the College of Fine Arts and Communication temporarily, while the university constructs a new music building on the main campus. That project is expected to be done by the end of 2022.

According to student reporting, when the new 170,000-square-foot Music Building is completed, other departments in the College of Fine Arts will move to the high school, as the process of designing and planning for a new arts building is begun.

BYU music building
Photo credit: Brigham Young University

Improvements on the high school site include "fixing carpets and cabinets, making sure electrical outlets and capacity are correct, and replacing the information technology infrastructure."

The college will also invest "Inspiring Learning" funds into various student programs to cover the expense of other off-campus learning opportunities for student majors who attend classes in the high school site.

Initially, Provo High School leased back the site under a 30-month lease agreement, which enabled the school to use the property for free while the district constructed a replacement campus. That new building was finished in time for the 2018-2019 school year. The former high school acreage sits across the street from the main university campus.

About the Author

Dian Schaffhauser is a former senior contributing editor for 1105 Media's education publications THE Journal, Campus Technology and Spaces4Learning.

Featured

  • Fellowes Expands Finish and Wall-Covering Options for Architectural Wall Systems

    Fellowes Architectural Solutions has expanded the materials library for its architectural wall systems with a series of new finishes and wall-covering options intended to provide architects and designers with additional choices for commercial interiors, according to a company news release.

  • Health & Science Building

    Health & Science Building

    Established in 1999, the Education Design Showcase is a vehicle for showing off innovative — yet practical — solutions in planning, design, architecture, and construction. The College of Western Idaho's Health & Science Building has been recognized with an EDS 2026 Project of Distinction award in the category of New Construction.

  • school building with glowing circuit board patterns

    AI Is Coming to Schools — But Most School Buildings Still Run on Institutional Memory

    As school districts race to introduce AI into classrooms, administration, and curriculum planning, another conversation is happening behind the scenes: How prepared are school facilities themselves for the operational demands AI will create?

  • USC Launches Major AI Initiative After $200M Gift

    The University of Southern California in Los Angeles, Calif., recently announced that it has launched a “transformational” new AI initiative thanks to a $200M gift, according to a news release. The project will leverage AI toward breakthroughs and innovations in subjects like the health sciences, business, security, and the arts.