BYU classes start with introduction of new engineering building
Jim Trent, assistant dean of the Ira A. Fulton College of Engineering and Technology at BYU, explains the new engineering building on Thursday, Aug. 30, 2018, in Provo.
A rendering of the new engineering building is pictured near the entrance of the building on Thursday, Aug. 30, 2018, in Provo.
The new engineering building is pictured on Thursday, Aug. 30, 2018, in Provo.
Jim Trent, assistant dean of the Ira A. Fulton College of Engineering and Technology at BYU, explains one of the new meeting rooms in the new engineering building on Thursday, Aug. 30, 2018, in Provo.
Jim Trent, assistant dean of the Ira A. Fulton College of Engineering and Technology at BYU, points out the area that will be used for welding in the new engineering building on Thursday, Aug. 30, 2018, in Provo.
Jim Trent, assistant dean of the Ira A. Fulton College of Engineering and Technology at BYU, explains how the new engineering building has room for storage for clubs on Thursday, Aug. 30, 2018, in Provo.
Jim Trent has watched donors’ eyes light up as he’s led them through Brigham Young University’s new engineering building.
When the building opened to students for the first day of classes Tuesday, he wanted them to have the same reaction.
“We expect great things to happen,” said Trent, the assistant dean of the Ira A. Fulton College of Engineering and Technology.
The engineering building is located south of and connects to the W. W. Clyde Engineering Building. The new building, which was under construction for two years, is five stories tall, 200,000 square feet and was entirely funded by more than 18,000 donors.
The building contains offices, teaching and project labs, classrooms and Harvey’s Cafe, a cafe named after BYU alumnus Harvey Fletcher that will serve gelato and open later in September.
Enrollment in BYU’s engineering college has boomed since the Clyde Building was built in the 1970s. The program now has about 4,000 students enrolled, compared to 1,400 students in the ’70s.
Trent said the college’s goal isn’t to grow, but to make sure students have real-life experience when they graduate. That mission is incorporated into the new building’s design, which includes collaboration workspace, space and storage for student clubs and student team rooms that can be checked out. There’s only two traditional classrooms in the building. The rest are team- and project-based areas.
Monitors hanging from the ceiling face away from students so professors can read notes from presentations without turning their backs to their class, and team rooms feature engineering feats, like the moon landing, on the walls to inspire students.
The building’s first floor is its innovation floor, featuring concrete floors, roll-up doors and interior windows into rooms so those walking by can see students working on projects inside. Trent said being able to lead someone through the building and have them see robots being tested or students working on senior capstone projects is a great recruiting tool.
“I’ve been doing this for years and I still get chills about these things,” he said.
Bathrooms include showers and the building’s glass railings on staircases and stainless steel accents give the structure an industrial look.
“We want to be known as the innovation hub of our campus,” Trent said.
Local News
Mother of Salem native who died on Latter-day Saint mission speaks out
Taking their places: Mayor Karen McCandless, three council members sworn-in at Orem’s Oath of Office
