Dare Mighty Things Jon M. Huntsman Hall Becomes a Reality
On March 16, 2016, we opened the doors of the Jon M. Huntsman Hall on the campus of Utah State University. Utah Governor Gary Herbert, members of the Huntsman family, dignitaries from the business and government communities, students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends joined Utah State University President Stan Albrecht and Huntsman School Dean Douglas Anderson in a dedication and ribbon cutting ceremony. “This day is a significant step in our journey to create a world-class business education program,” stated Dean Anderson. “There is not a better building on any campus in the country. Our students will absolutely love studying here.”
Grand opening events included a dedication attended by business, government, and civic leaders, two ribbon cutting ceremonies, and an open house. The American Festival Chorus, led by Dr. Craig Jessop, dean of the Caine College of the Arts at Utah State University, sang “Bless this House,” and “America the Beautiful.” Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints offered the dedicatory prayer.
Planning for the facility began over five years ago with a groundbreaking in the Fall of 2013. Contributions from alumni and friends funded nearly 70 percent of the total project cost of $50 million. Alongside classrooms and student space, the building also houses the Jeffrey Clark Center for Entrepreneurship and the Partners in Business Program.
I see a gathering of people here who love education, who love Utah State University, and love the State of Utah.
— Governor Gary Herbert
The 125,000 sq. ft. building, integrated with the existing George S. Eccles Business Building, provides much needed physical space for increasing enrollment, and signals the forward movement of the Huntsman School. Huntsman Hall is emblematic of our vision and values and promotes interaction through its very design. It is a place for people to be involved with others, for active learning, for interaction, collaboration, for teamwork. It is a space that promotes community.
Huntsman Hall Floor Plans
Click on an image below to view detailed floor plans.
We’ve come here today to honor and recognize the Huntsman family and to celebrate the impact that they’re having on our students and on our university. What Jon and Karen and their family have done and are doing for us reflects the great passion that they have for our students. It’s also a manifestation of the shared passion and commitment that we have with them and with all of you to truly become one of the great undergraduate business schools in this great country.
— President Stan Albrecht
An extensive assessment in 2011 included input from faculty, staff, students, and alumni, and resulted in a collaborative decision into our current and future needs. This assessment, and the programmatic study that followed, gave rise to plan for a building created first and foremost for our students. The 21 classrooms and 21 study rooms in Huntsman Hall provide students with an incredible learning environment, and combined with the various common areas throughout the building, as well as a café and outdoor spaces, gives the entire Huntsman School community of students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends a singular space to gather and interact.
I hope they teach that honesty, and integrity, and your word is your bond. Nothing else is going to be as important as teaching that to these students.
— Karen H. Huntsman
The completion of Huntsman Hall would not be possible without support from university leadership, especially from USU President Stan Albrecht, the Huntsman School National Advisory Board, faculty, staff, students, alumni, and friends.
The namesake of our business school, Jon M. Huntsman, Sr., provided the lead gift, which was then supplemented by our incredible alumni and friends. These early investors enabled us to bring our plans to reality. This private support was complemented by funding from the State of Utah. This public-private partnership occurred despite difficult economic times and is a testament of a commitment to higher education and a recognition that the business school remains a tremendous engine of growth for our community.
This exquisite new facility represents the very best of both the human spirit and individual integrity.
— Jon M. Huntsman, Sr.
Jon M. Huntsman, noted entrepreneur, philanthropist, and public servant, challenged us in 2007 to build a business school that produces students who can compete with the best and brightest anywhere in the world.
This son of a schoolteacher has devoted significant time and treasure to improving the human condition, including giving to educational causes in his community, to his alma mater the Wharton School, and to Utah State University.
His challenge to us in 2007 has now brought us world-class faculty, incredible new curricular and extracurricular opportunities for our students, and local, national, and global accolades. The opening of the Jon M. Huntsman Hall is another significant step in our journey to create a world-class business program. We are indeed grateful for his vision, his generosity, and his continuing challenge to spur us on to greater heights.
We cannot say enough about the Huntsman family. We appreciate the great contributions that have been made in so many ways. We cannot overstate the blessing that Utah receives because Jon and Karen Huntsman call Utah home.
— Governor Gary Herbert