The University of Utah broke ground on its first off-campus hospital in West Valley, backed by a $75 Million Eccles Foundation gift. The facility will expand healthcare access, create jobs, and pioneer patient-centered technology.
West Valley City, Utah - June 13, 2025
In a landmark move to improve healthcare access and economic opportunity in Utah’s westside communities, the University of Utah broke ground on its first off-campus hospital and health campus in West Valley City. The new Eccles Health Campus and Eccles Hospital, located at 3750 South and 5600 West, represents a $1 billion investment backed by a historic $75 million gift from the George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation—the largest in the foundation’s 67-year history.
“This hospital is more than a building—it’s a promise to this community,” said University of Utah President Taylor Randall during the groundbreaking ceremony, held during WestFest, West Valley’s annual celebration of culture and community. “It’s about saving lives and launching futures.”
Expanding Access, Reducing Burden
Once complete, the Eccles Health Campus will deliver a wide range of healthcare services to a region that currently faces significant access barriers. West Valley residents travel an estimated 12 million miles annually to the University of Utah’s main campus for care.
“This is a lot of time on the road,” said Lisa Eccles, president and COO of the Eccles Foundation. “But I’m happy to say—we are ready to change that today.”
Set to open in two phases—Phase 1A in 2028 and Phase 1B in 2029—the facility will feature approximately 130 inpatient beds, 200 exam rooms for outpatient care, specialties including cardiology, oncology, orthopedics, women’s health, pediatrics, and mental health, as well as a helipad, emergency department, and surgical suites. The hospital is expected to accommodate over 340,000 outpatient visits annually.
It will also serve as a clinical training site for students at the Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine, helping to address Utah’s severe physician shortage. “Utah ranks 49th out of 50 for primary care providers,” said Dr. Bob Carter, CEO of University of Utah Health. “The physician shortage is five times greater in westside communities than in eastside ones.”
“For 60 years, the Eccles family has partnered with University of Utah Health to support exceptional health care,” said Spencer F. Eccles, Chairman and CEO of the George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation. “Today, we’re proud to continue this partnership on what is one of the most impactful projects our Foundation has ever supported. This beautiful state-of-the-art hospital will bring together expert medical providers and educators, top-notch medical students, and, most importantly, the wonderful people of this vibrant community. We couldn’t be more excited about the future—a future of better health and expanded opportunities for our westside communities.”
Construction of the Eccles Health Campus in West Valley will be led by Okland Construction—in collaboration with MHTN Architects and CannonDesign—and will begin this summer with doors scheduled to open in 2028. Along with offering University of Utah Health’s nationally recognized patient care, the Eccles Health Campus will be a primary training site for Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine students.
Economic Engine for West Valley
In addition to improving health outcomes, the Eccles Health Campus will generate significant economic impact: over 2,000 new jobs, workforce development pipelines tied to healthcare careers, and long-term investment in one of Utah’s fastest-growing and most diverse communities.
The project is a collaboration between the University of Utah, West Valley City, and local stakeholders, with support from state and local leaders including Lieutenant Governor Deidre Henderson, Senator Luz Escamilla, and Representative Ashlee Matthews.
Smart Hospital: Technology at the Core
The Eccles Health Campus is not only a healthcare facility—it’s a technological prototype for the future of patient-centered care.
Ischa Jensen, Associate Executive Director of System Planning for University of Utah Hospitals, discussed with TechBuzz how the design draws on lessons from the Craig H. Neilsen Rehabilitation Hospital, located on the main University of Utah campus, to create smart and adaptable patient rooms. The rooms will feature iPad-controlled lights, blinds, thermostats, doors, and TVs, as well as accessibility tools like voice commands, sip-and-puff controls, and custom switches. “We’re really meeting the patient where they are,” said Jensen.
The facility’s integrated infrastructure includes future-ready conduit systems and modular layouts to accommodate evolving technologies. Jensen said the planning team is “already thinking through the wiring, the systems, the adaptability,” emphasizing that the foundation of the design allows for long-term growth.
Built for the Future, Shaped by the Community
Construction will proceed in two major phases. Phase 1A, expected to open in 2028, will deliver multi-specialty outpatient services, emergency care, surgical suites, oncology, women’s and mental health services. Phase 1B, slated for 2029, will add inpatient care with 130 beds—marking the U's first full community hospital.
The project is designed with scalability in mind, giving the University flexibility to expand services as demand grows.
Community engagement has played a key role in shaping the design. Residents contributed to decisions about location, services, and cultural considerations, including multilingual interfaces and culturally sensitive care delivery.
“We’ve had hundreds of hours of meetings,” Jensen said. “What we’ve seen is an immense amount of partnership with the community and the neighbors involved.”
Site selection was heavily influenced by community needs. With west-side residents traveling millions of miles for medical appointments, the new campus aims to reduce that burden and deliver care close to home.
Setting a New Standard for Technology and Innovation
Though still in early design stages, the Eccles Health Campus is being viewed as a testbed for future innovations in healthcare delivery. Jensen hinted at possibilities still under development, saying, “We’re still talking through that next iteration,” and noting that the campus could serve as a proving ground for emerging healthcare technologies.
The University of Utah’s legacy of medical firsts—including the world’s first artificial heart implant and pioneering genomic diagnostics—positions this facility as a site where technology, care, and community converge.
"This hospital will save lives. It will launch careers in healthcare. It will be a national model for community-driven care and education. This is why I love leading an academic institution—projects like this bring people together, make us confront hard societal problems, and inspire hope for a better future," said Pres. Randall.
