BYU is constantly trying to improve and make the campus beautiful. Of these improvement projects, the construction of new buildings could perhaps be the most exciting. Three buildings to note are being built or re-modeled on campus. These buildings include the Smith Family Living Center, the Smith Fieldhouse, and the new Athletic Center.

The Smith Family Living Center

The Joseph F. Smith Family Living Center, named after the sixth president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, was completed in 1951. Until the building was torn-down to re-build, it housed a head start program for four-year-olds. Children were welcome to attend from the community, faculty and students. Each classroom had a two-way mirror where students could monitor the children without being detected.

The "School of Family Life," was announced in the fall of 1998. It will be housed by the new building when it is completed. The

School of Family Life," programs include the departments of Home Economics Education, Marriage, Family and Human Development, the Child and Family Studies Laboratories and the Family Studies Center, and Marriage and Family Therapy.

The Smith Fieldhouse

The George Albert Smith Fieldhouse was named after the eighth president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The fieldhouse was originally designed for sports to be played year-round. It had the original basketball court, which could hold 11,000 spectators. When the Smith Fieldhouse was built, BYU only had six sports. Contrast that today today's number of 21 sports and more than 600 student-athletes.

The building was also the home to academic registration. Students could view class openings and full classes posted on a wooden board. It also housed devotionals and graduation ceremonies.

The New Athletic Complex

The new Athletic Complex will actually be two separate buildings. The first is an indoor practice facility, which will be west of the fieldhouse. The second will be a student-athlete center which will house a strength and conditioning center, a student-athlete academic center, training facilities, a nutrition center, an equipment room, locker rooms, the Hall of Fame showcase, offices and conference rooms.

President Bateman introduced the New Athletic Center at the BYU vs. Hawaii football game on September 6, 2002. With a remaining eight million dollars to earn before construction, he promised building would commence by December 31. The project, which is now underway, should be finished by fall 2003.



Copyright Brigham Young University 16 Apr 2003