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Utah Valley University Opens New Engineering Building

  • By Matt Jones
  • 01/22/26

Key Takeaways

  • Utah Valley University opened the nearly 200,000-square-foot Scott M. Smith Engineering Building to expand hands-on learning and applied research amid growing demand for engineering skills.
  • The facility was supported in part by a $25 million gift from Qualtrics co-founder Scott M. Smith and his wife, Karen, reflecting a long-term investment in Utah County’s workforce and economy.
  • New state-of-the-art labs—including wind tunnel, smart grid, and drone research spaces—are designed to advance education and innovation in engineering, energy systems, and computer science.

Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, recently held a grand-opening ceremony for the new Scott M. Smith Engineering Building, according to a news release. The facility is one of the largest engineering buildings in the state at almost 200,000 square feet, and it plays home to the university’s Smith College of Engineering and Technology (SCET). Against the backdrop of rising demand for engineering skills (estimated to increase by about 13% in the next five years, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics), the Smith Engineering Building provides expanded space for learning and applied research.

Funding came partly from a $25-million gift from Scott M. Smith, Qualtrics co-founder, and his wife.

"We are grateful for Scott and Karen Smith’s vision and generosity,” said University President Astrid S. Tuminez. “This building opens the door to hands-on learning with state-of-the-art simulations, advanced research equipment, and transformative lab experiences. It will redefine engineering education at UVU and will draw more students to our campus. This facility will incubate human talent and strengthen Utah’s workforce and innovative economy now and in the future."

Academic amenities include classrooms, collaborative workspaces, and multiple specialized instructional and research labs. A Wind Tunnel Lab will provide space for aerodynamics testing and flow visualization for research in fluid mechanics, thermal and fluid experimentation, and mechanical engineering. The Smart Grid Lab is connected to an E-5 wind turbine and is intended to study electric vehicles, battery technology, and energy systems. Finally, an Electrical and Computer Engineering Drone Lab has multiple floors and will be used for “machine learning, embedded systems, autonomous systems, capstones, senior projects, and applied research activities. It will include a drone net, cameras, working stations, small and mid-size drones, and drone equipment,” the news release reports.

“It has been a dream for Karen and me to be able to give back in a way that would positively impact people’s lives and help boost the local and state economies,” said Scott M. Smith. “We feel like we are investing in the future of generations of new engineers and computer scientists, and wanted to do it in Utah County. Karen and I grew up here. Our children were raised here, and we started Qualtrics in our home in Provo. Utah County and Utah Valley University hold special places in our hearts.”

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

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