Construction on the Utah State University Moab new academic building is currently on schedule for the campus’ planned ribbon cutting on April 1, 2022. According to updates from contractors, the project is currently estimated to be about 65% complete.

“We are so excited about the continued progress on the new building,” said Lianna Etchberger, associate vice president. “The building is taking shape and it’s starting to feel like the inspiring place of learning and community gathering that it was designed to be. The views are amazing and people around town are excited that the building is finally coming together. I am so grateful to all those who stepped up to make this project happen.”

USU President Noelle Cockett visiting with construction superintendent Allen Walters during a visit in September inside the new building construction.

USU Moab’s new campus will be a combustion-free, net-zero energy building that is passively designed to harness solar energy. Some of the building’s features include ground-source heating and cooling, photovoltaic solar parking canopies, PVC-free interior finishes, natural day lighting and natural material construction. The building’s glass exterior is also made with bird-friendly glass. These features, which are all designed to reduce the campus’ carbon footprint, are targeted for the campus design receiving a silver-level LEED certification. The state-of-the-art facility will have indoor and outdoor spaces for hands-on learning experiences. Students and visitors will enjoy a campus reflecting Moab’s natural landscape, linking them to their broader ecosystem.

The ribbon cutting of the USU Moab campus will feature the sealing of a time capsule, which will be opened again in 2072. Various items from the community will be placed inside the capsule.

“We are asking our community to really put on their thinking caps,” Etchberger said. “What is it that we will want the 2072 residents of Moab to know about USU Moab and our community now?”

Located in the outdoor recreation paradise of Moab and boasting one of the greenest buildings on USU campuses, Utah State University Moab offers students the personalized attention and small class sizes of a community college with the resources of a large university. With programs such as Nursing, Elementary Education, Recreation Resource Management and Social Work, technical education in Health Professions, Automotive and Business, and associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate degrees available in various disciplines, the possibilities are virtually endless for students.

USU Moab is also a home to USU Extension, which provides research-based programs and resources with the goal of improving the lives of individuals, families and communities throughout Utah. USU Extension operates through a cooperative agreement between the United States Department of Agriculture, Utah State University, and county governments.

For more information on USU Moab’s new campus, visit statewide.usu.edu/moab/newcampus.