REXBURG, Idaho — A new building to serve both religious and academic needs will soon be built at Ricks College as it prepares for future growth.
The approximately 54,000-square-foot building will be located in an open site between Second East South Street and the floral demonstration gardens. It will be southeast of the college's newest major building, the Kimball Student and Administrative Services Building.
The building will be patterned after the LDS Church's Institute of Religion building at Idaho State University in Pocatello, says Ricks Administrative Vice President James Smyth. Similar buildings are also being constructed near the campuses of the University of Utah and Salt Lake Community College, both in Salt Lake City; and Dixie State College in St. George, Utah.
Ground will be broken early this spring, Brother Smyth said. Because a standard plan already is designed, the building can be built quickly. Completion will take about 14 months and should be ready for use by the fall of 2002.
Brother Smyth explained the building is needed to accommodate more students who will be studying at the new baccalaureate institution to be known as Brigham Young University-Idaho. The college projects the number of students on campus at one time will gradually climb from its current 9,000 level to about 11,600 students in five years.
The two-story building with a partial basement will stand on a hillside and be approximately 50 feet at its highest point. The contractor is Jacobsen Construction of Salt Lake City, and the architect is Jensen Haslem of Logan, Utah. Unlike other buildings on campus that were generally designed for academic needs, the building is principally designed for religious needs. It will feature a chapel with fixed pews, a large multipurpose room with moveable chairs that will be used as a chapel, approximately 16 classrooms, a gymnasium, two serving kitchens and office space.
Presently there are 57 wards and six stakes on campus. The building will handle eight wards and be able to accommodate large congregations such as stake conferences and overflow for devotionals. During the week, the building will be used by the college for classes. The building will have office space for 20 to 25 faculty members, who will share offices with ward and stake leaders.