The University of Utah (U of U) is moving forward with its plan to develop a full-scale hospital after the Board of Trustees approved a $43.5 million land purchase agreement.
The purchase lays the groundwork for U of U to break ground on a roughly 45-acre, 200,000-square-foot medical facility this month. While the new property is a significant step in the right direction, major construction work isn’t expected to begin for another five to 10 years. However, university officials haven’t discounted the possibility that they could begin building the project earlier than that estimate.
The medical campus would be built at the Point of the Mountain (The Point), a growing area west of Interstate 15 projected to begin its first phase this month. The Point will consist of 600 acres attached to the state’s Innovation Community, prompting innovation and technological growth while supporting quality of life improvements and open spaces.
The Point represents one of the largest public projects in Utah history, converting a former prison site into a large mixed-use development. Once completed, The Point will be a living-working community with high walkability infrastructure. Features will include retail, entertainment, innovation, educational, office and residential spaces within the community.
The hospital will serve as a cornerstone for the community, providing top-tier healthcare services for the area, prioritizing the southern edges of Salt Lake County and Utah County.
As part of the land purchase, U of U will receive a 12-year exclusivity period to build the medical facility. Once the university meets development standards, it will receive a 30-year extension on the site. The completed site will be located near the university’s other recent expansions – a cancer care center and a separate hospital, scheduled for completion in 2029 and 2028, respectively.
Photo by Pixabay
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