On Friday, a significant milestone was celebrated in West Valley City with the groundbreaking of a major health care facility aimed at changing lives for the residents of Salt Lake Valley’s west side.
University of Utah officials, dignitaries, and community members gathered at Centennial Park for a vibrant ceremony marking the beginning of construction on a new state-of-the-art hospital and medical campus.
The ceremony was attended by Utah Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson and over 100 University officials, state and local leaders who contributed to the planning stages of the hospital.
The occasion involved a symbolic shoveling of dirt, kicking off the construction of the facility that will mark the University of Utah’s first off-campus hospital in its 175-year history and its largest medical facility to date.
Located at 3784 S. 5600 West, the initial phases of this expansive 800,000-square-foot hospital and accompanying medical offices are expected to open around 2028.
The new facility, named the University of Utah Eccles Health Campus and Eccles Hospital in West Valley, represents a pivotal advancement in medical services for the community, particularly for those residing in disadvantaged areas west of Interstate 15 who have historically faced challenges in accessing quality health care.
“Just because health care services are available does not mean that they are accessible,” said Henderson.
She expressed gratitude for the progress being made towards providing equitable health care services for individuals living on the west side of I-15.
This groundbreaking ceremony coincided with West Valley City’s annual WestFest, which celebrates the city’s founding in 1980.
The event featured 15 officials and community members dressed in red hard hats and wielding red shovels as they collectively shouted, “Go Utes!”
The comprehensive hospital and medical campus, which will include a main hospital, medical office building, parking structures, and extensive green grounds is projected to cost around $855 million when completed, likely by 2029 or later.
This facility is anticipated to serve over 426,000 patients annually, offering a full range of services, including an emergency department, 130 inpatient rooms, and 200 exam rooms along with support offices for nearly 50 specialties.
According to estimates, the hospital’s location could save west-side residents up to 12 million miles of travel, drastically transforming how they access medical services that previously required trips eastward.
Dennis Menjivar, a medical student at the University of Utah and West Valley City resident, highlighted the potential opportunities the new hospital will create for local students.
“It’s going to provide local students with chances to shadow providers, network in health care and find a path into this field, no matter where you start,” he said.
The planning for this project has been in progress since at least 2022, when the Utah Legislature began to support the funding necessary for the establishment of this healthcare institution.
As West Valley City stands to gain significantly from this development, officials estimate the new medical campus could generate up to 2,000 jobs and contribute positively to the local economy by spurring related commerce.
University of Utah President Taylor Randall hailed the ceremony as a historic milestone for the institution and emphasized its importance for both the university and the communities it serves.
“We believe that, together, this project will not only save lives, but it will also initiate educational processes that will benefit health care provider training not only in our hospital but in hospitals around the country,” Randall noted.
He underscored the remarkable societal impact this facility is expected to have, given that some neighborhoods on the west side of Interstate 15 have shown a 10-year disparity in life expectancy when compared to other areas in the state.
Randall expressed admiration for the architecturally appealing renderings of the new hospital’s design, calling them “gorgeous” and “absolutely fabulous.”
During the ceremony, Randall commended city officials, including West Valley City Mayor Karen Lang and Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson, for their exceptional efforts in making this project a reality.
“We are deeply appreciative of our mayors who have done a remarkable job ensuring that we are able to get things done,” he concluded.
In particular, he reserved special gratitude for the Eccles family, who have a long-standing history of philanthropic support for the university and community.
Randall expressed, “There are many times when we face things in life and you wonder, ‘Who is going to help us accomplish this?’ Almost always, you can say the Eccles family.”
He acknowledged a substantial $75 million donation from the George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation toward the hospital project—signifying the largest single donation in the foundation’s history, dedicated entirely to Utah’s flagship university.
Spence Eccles, a prominent philanthropic figure, received an enthusiastic standing ovation during the ceremony.
“We’re all thrilled with this extraordinary accomplishment,” the 90-year-old philanthropist stated, reflecting on the potential this new facility has to unite expert medical providers, educators, aspiring medical students, and community members.
Daughter Lisa Eccles, who serves as the foundation’s president and chief operating officer, emphasized the transformative potential of the gift.
She shared her father’s sentiments during a light-hearted moment before the event when he joked, “I hope the check clears.”
The University of Utah Hospital, located on the school’s east-bench campus, currently stands as the state’s largest facility, housing approximately 613 inpatient beds.
The westward expansion signifies a strategic move to improve healthcare availability alongside a series of ongoing construction projects across Salt Lake County.
In designing the West Valley City campus, U. officials underscored the importance of resident engagement, stating that extensive outreach has been aimed at ensuring the hospital prioritizes community needs and benefits.
Although initial phases of the construction were delayed due to rising costs, the University of Utah has chosen Okland Construction as the general contractor and plans to proceed with building the campus in several phases.
The multispecialty outpatient center is slated to be the first opened around 2028, equipped with an emergency department, exam rooms, and a portion of specialty care facilities.
Following that, additional inpatient hospital beds, labor and delivery rooms, and expanded surgical capabilities will be rolled out alongside amenities such as a retail and specialty pharmacy, gift shop, café and coffee shop, wellness spaces, a chapel, and community gathering areas.
These subsequent amenities are planned for completion around 2029, with further expansions to follow.
Community advocate Liliana Martínez highlighted the deeper significance of the forthcoming facility, seeing it as a new beginning rather than merely a collection of buildings.
“As we get closer to having a hospital, I see this not as a combination of buildings, but as a new beginning,” Martínez stated, emphasizing the opportunities this development will provide for local youth and the community as a whole.
She expressed hope for growth in skills, knowledge, partnerships, and economic prospects as a result of the new hospital setting.
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