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Governor Spencer Cox, left, along with Utah State Developmental Center superintendent Tim Matthews, center, and Utah Department of Health and Human Services Executive Director Tracy Gruber, pose a photo during the ribbon-cutting of the new therapy building on Thursday, July 17, 2025.

Curtis Booker, Daily Herald

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The outside of the new Comprehensive Medical and Therapies Building at the Utah State Developmental Center is shown on Thursday, July 17, 2025.

Curtis Booker, Daily Herald

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The outside of the new Comprehensive Medical and Therapies Building at the Utah State Developmental Center is shown on Thursday, July 17, 2025.

Curtis Booker, Daily Herald

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After nearly two years of construction and close to a decade of efforts toward a plan to bring all of its services under one roof, a new facility on the Utah State Developmental Center’s campus is ready to open.

On Thursday, state leaders and health officials gathered to celebrate the completion of the new Comprehensive Medical and Therapies Building at the Utah State Developmental Center in American Fork.

For more than a century, the Utah State Developmental Center has provided an array of resources and support for people with disabilities who have complex or specific needs.

The USDC provides housing for “intellectually disabled adults” who struggle to find the care they need within their communities, USDC superintendent Tim Mathews explained.

“This was created to provide those medical services for people with complex medical issues,” Matthews said. “As it’s developed, now we’re seeing more behavioral health issues, that they’ve experienced trauma, that they can’t keep safe for themselves or other people safe.”

The center provides 24-hour residential and active treatment care, such as physical, occupational, speech and recreational therapy as well as psychological services.

The facility currently has 155 people living on the campus and 700 staff members, all spread across three buildings.

The new therapy building will consolidate services from several older buildings into one treatment space.

Among the features of the new 64,000-square-foot building are an audiology room for hearing tests, multipurpose spaces for training and recreation, dedicated rooms for occupational and physical therapy and an Americans with Disabilities Act compliant swimming pool.

Governor Spencer Cox joined Matthews and other health leaders as they cut the ribbon on the new facility.

Earlier this year, the Utah State Legislature set aside $1.4 million to help fund the new therapy building.

“This is the most vulnerable population in Utah,” Matthews told reporters. ” We need the support of the Legislature to make sure that we’re providing the best care and life for them.”

The Utah Department of Health and Human Services says the upgrade will improve campus workflow and could save up to 29,900 staff hours annually by reducing the time employees move from one building to another. 

The Utah State Developmental Center Comprehensive Therapy Building, located at 895 N. 900 East in American Fork, is slated to begin opening in phases on Monday.