Eccles School of Business to build new Impact and Prosperity Epicenter

The David Eccles School of Business at the University of Utah has announced that it will break ground this summer on its new Impact and Prosperity Epicenter. The facility is envisioned as a multidisciplinary hub for innovation, impact and prosperity, which will provide student housing and office space for the Center for Business, Health and Prosperity and Sorenson Impact Center, the organization said. The $114 million project is made possible by the support of anchor donations from Jim Sorenson and Robert and Lynette Gay.

The six-story building will include a dedicated gathering space on the first floor, known as The Forum, which will serve as the heart of the building. This space will bring together users from the different programmatic areas and from all over campus in an open, collaborative space. The Center for Business, Health and Prosperity and Sorenson Impact Center will occupy space directly above The Forum. The 284,808-square-foot building will also provide 775 resident beds for students.

“The Epicenter is a living-learning space that will provide an unparalleled opportunity to equip the next generation of leaders with social purpose and sharpen the world’s understanding of impact investing and approaches to sustainable economic development,” said Sorenson. “We believe the outcome of the Epicenter will be two-fold: creating the highest learning and solutions in impact investing and preparing students to be powerful global citizens and community leaders.”

“We are excited to be a partner with the university and Jim Sorenson in building this new Impact and Prosperity Epicenter,” said the Gays in a statement. “Through the center we expect to lay a new innovative foundation within the university that builds and enhances the lives of not only the university’s students but countless others, especially in Africa where we have labored for many years. Building on a mission of unifying the resources of business and public health, we believe the Epicenter will become a cutting-edge deliverer led by students of growth, hope and prosperity to today’s global community. We are grateful to part of this new venture.”

“Demand for on-campus housing is growing, but we want to ensure our students have more than just a place to live,” said UofU President Taylor Randall, who oversaw the planning of the Epicenter during his time as dean at the Eccles School. “We want to create a living-learning community where students can engage with the transformational work of these centers, gain valuable experience and use that experience to change the world around them. The Epicenter incorporates all elements of our vision to inspire, innovate and impact.”

Construction of the building is expected to begin in June, with a completion date of August 2024.