Gordon B. Hinckley Alumni and Visitors Center
Encyclopedia
Building
In architecture, construction, engineering, real estate development and technology the word building may refer to one of the following:...
which houses alumni association offices on the Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University is a private university located in Provo, Utah. It is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and is the United States' largest religious university and third-largest private university.Approximately 98% of the university's 34,000 students...
campus in Provo, Utah
Provo, Utah
Provo is the third largest city in the U.S. state of Utah, located about south of Salt Lake City along the Wasatch Front. Provo is the county seat of Utah County and lies between the cities of Orem to the north and Springville to the south...
.
Announcement and fund-raising
In autumn of 2005 Brigham Young University quietly announced plans to raise money for a new alumni center named for Gordon HinckleyGordon B. Hinckley
Gordon Bitner Hinckley was an American religious leader and author who served as the 15th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from March 12, 1995 until his death...
, the fifteenth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Groundbreaking
On June 23, 2006, Hinckley's 96th birthdayBirthday
A birthday is a day or anniversary where a person celebrates his or her date of birth. Birthdays are celebrated in numerous cultures, often with a gift, party or rite of passage. Although the major religions celebrate the birth of their founders , Christmas – which is celebrated widely by...
, ground was broken for the building. President Hinckley was joined by university administrators, other BYU trustees, and donors. He opted to use a well-worn shovel chosen from his own garden tools rather than the ceremonial blue and white shovels used by other participants, which was later donated to the visitors center after its completion.
Completion and dedication
The building was completed and dedicated exactly one year from the date of the groundbreaking, sooner than expected. Hinckley and other LDS church leaders attended the dedication where items were collected and inserted into a time capsuleTime capsule
A time capsule is an historic cache of goods or information, usually intended as a method of communication with future people and to help future archaeologists, anthropologists, or historians...
. The $35 million project was paid for entirely from donations of over 70,000 individuals including 8,000 students and 49,000 alumni.
Design
At 83,000 square feet (7,432 sq. m), the building has three stories and a lower level. It includes a clocktower and due to its elevation, the building is highly visible from the campus and while approaching the campus.Use
The building acts as a visitor centerVisitor center
A visitor center or centre , visitor information center, tourist information center, is a physical location that provides tourist information to the visitors who tour the place or area locally...
, contains exhibits showcasing Brigham Young University's history, features a small theater
Theater (structure)
A theater or theatre is a structure where theatrical works or plays are performed or other performances such as musical concerts may be produced. While a theater is not required for performance , a theater serves to define the performance and audience spaces...
and houses alumni association
Alumni association
An alumni association is an association of graduates or, more broadly, of former students. In the United Kingdom and the United States, alumni of universities, colleges, schools , fraternities, and sororities often form groups with alumni from the same organisation...
offices for the university.
Further reading
- Walch, T. (2006, May 31). BYU getting a new alumni center. Deseret News, pp. B01.