OREM — When Utah Valley University broke ground Friday for a $30.6 million, 160,000-square-foot science building, it was a good start for the building needs of Utah's fastest growing university.
On Thursday, Aug. 12, UVU officials will unveil a proposed new master building plan that takes an updated look at the needs of the school that has received university status since the previous plan was drafted in 2005.
"This is our plan for the future for buildings on campus, parking on campus," said Jim Michaelis, associate vice president of UVU facilities. "It's the master plan for all physical facilities on campus. This is mainly for residents in the area, but the community also has the opportunity to see where we're headed and what our plans are."
Those interested are invited to review the revamped plan from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. today in Room 206 of UVU's Sorensen Student Center.
In addition to the science building, which was funded by the Utah Legislature in its 2010 session, plans call for a new student and wellness building, a performing arts facility, a new business entryway, relocation of the fieldhouse, a link to 800 South and the I-15 interchange, new parking structures, new property at Thanksgiving Point and Geneva Steel, and a new building resource center.
"Master plans usually are for five years," said Val Peterson, Utah Valley University's vice president for administration and legislative affairs. "But there are more structures here than we can build in five years. This gives a very comprehensive look at the campus."
All of the proposed new buildings would be constructed on the 235-acre campus in Orem, Michaelis said.
The Geneva property, 100 acres on the south side of the abandoned steel plant site, would be used for intramural activities.
"UVU is a very rapidly growing and expanding campus," Peterson said. "And as we continue to grow and expand, we see a need to provide more student life activities that require open space."
The purchase of the Geneva property is still uncertain. UVU trustees have approved $5 million for the $20 million deal. University officials have asked the Vineyard Redevelopment Agency for $5 million, with the remaining $10 million coming in the form of a donation from Anderson Development, which owns the 1,750-acre Geneva property.
Michaelis said an ever-growing and changing student population is driving the demand for more space.
"Originally, the whole design of the campus was for 5,000 students," he said. "We are pushing 30,000 this year."
University status, granted in 2008, and an increasing number of four-year degrees available have changed the kind of students attending UVU.
"As we get more four-year degrees, we get more students who stay here for the full university experience," Peterson said. "The proposed master plan provides a great structure for us to develop the campus in a university way."
Michaelis said it's a good time for new college building, thanks to a favorable bidding climate.
"This has benefited us significantly," he said. "The day before we opened bids on the science building, our estimate was $47 million. The low bid came in at $30.6 million."
Legislative funding will be needed for the performing arts building and the business entryway. A student bond would fund the student and wellness building, and a new fieldhouse would be funded through donations.
e-mail: mhaddock@desnews.com