The Gordon B. Hinckley Alumni and Visitors Center is a three-story building named for

Gordon B. Hinckley Gordon Bitner Hinckley (June 23, 1910 – January 27, 2008) was an American religious leader and author who served as the 15th President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) from March 1995 until his death in January 200 ...

which houses alumni association offices on the

Brigham Young University Brigham Young University (BYU, sometimes referred to colloquially as The Y) is a private research university in Provo, Utah. It was founded in 1875 by religious leader Brigham Young and is sponsored by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day ...

(BYU) campus in

Provo, Utah Provo ( ) is the fourth-largest city in Utah, United States. It is south of Salt Lake City along the Wasatch Front. Provo is the largest city and county seat of Utah County and is home to Brigham Young University (BYU). Provo lies between the ...

. The building acts as a

visitors center A visitor center or centre (see American and British English spelling differences), visitor information center, tourist information center, is a physical location that provides tourist information to visitors. Types of visitor center A visit ...

, contains exhibits showcasing BYU's history, features a small

theater Theatre or theater is a collaborative form of performing art that uses live performers, usually actor, actors or actresses, to present the experience of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place, often a stage. The p ...

, and houses

alumni association An alumni association or alumnae association is an association of graduates or, more broadly, of former students (alumni). In the United Kingdom and the United States, alumni of universities, colleges, schools (especially independent schools), ...

offices for the university. BYU University Relations and BYU High School Relations are located in the building and give complimentary tours to campus visitors.

History

In autumn 2005, BYU announced plans to raise money for a new alumni center named for Hinckley, the fifteenth

president President most commonly refers to: *President (corporate title) *President (education), a leader of a college or university *President (government title) President may also refer to: Automobiles * Nissan President, a 1966–2010 Japanese ful ...

the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, informally known as the LDS Church or Mormon Church, is a Nontrinitarianism, nontrinitarian Christianity, Christian church that considers itself to be the Restorationism, restoration of the ...

(LDS Church). In 2006, BYU's existing alumni building, the Alumni House, was demolished 44 years and one day after it was dedicated.Walch, Tad
"BYU getting a new alumni center"
''

Deseret News The ''Deseret News'' () is the oldest continuously operating publication in the American west. Its multi-platform products feature journalism and commentary across the fields of politics, culture, family life, faith, sports, and entertainment. Th ...

'', 31 May 2006. Retrieved on 27 March 2020. BYU Hinckley Building

On June 23, 2006, Hinckley's 96th

birthday A birthday is the anniversary of the birth of a person, or figuratively of an institution. Birthdays of people are celebrated in numerous cultures, often with birthday gifts, birthday cards, a birthday party, or a rite of passage. Many relig ...

, ground was broken for the building. 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. The building was completed and dedicated exactly one year from the date of the groundbreaking, June 23, 2007, and construction was completed sooner than expected. Hinckley and other LDS Church leaders attended the dedication where items—including Hinckley's hammer and cuff links—were added to a

time capsule A time capsule is a historic cache of goods or information, usually intended as a deliberate method of communication with future people, and to help future archaeologists, anthropologists, or historians. The preservation of holy relics dates ba ...

. 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, which rises 122 feet, and due to its elevation, the building is highly visible from the campus when one is approaching the campus. The building was installed with 153 windows, 800 tons of steel, 4,573 cubic yards of concrete, and crews used 130 tones of sandstone from a Heber quarry and 310 tons of brick to create the exterior. One of the two construction companies involved with the building, Span Construction, is owned by King Husein, a BYU alumnus."Breakfast With King Husein: "Speed Of Business""
''Monterey Private Wealth'', 2 June 2009. Retrieved on 27 March 2020.

References

External links

Gordon B. Hinckley Alumni and Visitors Center
Official site
Brigham Young University
Official site {{DEFAULTSORT:Gordon B. Hinckley Alumni And Visitors Center Brigham Young University buildings 2007 establishments in Utah