Events Planned to Celebrate Opening of Hurst Center
OGDEN, Utah – Weber State University is planning a celebration May 28 in honor of the opening of the new Hurst Center for Lifelong Learning on the Ogden campus.
Scheduled events include a ribbon cutting at 1:30 p.m., followed by an open house from 2 to 4 p.m. with self-guided tours of the new two-story facility.
The $9 million, 42,000-square-foot Hurst Center was designed by MHTN Architects of Salt Lake City and built entirely with non-state monies thanks in large part to private donations, including a significant gift from the Stewart Education Foundation.
“This building is a reality thanks to several supportive and generous friends of the university,” said Brad Mortensen, vice president for University Advancement. “We are grateful for their ongoing support of Weber State.”
The state Division of Facilities Construction and Management oversaw the project with R&O Construction serving as general contractor. WSU employee Mark Halverson was the project manager.
Located just east of the Lindquist Alumni Center, the architecture and design of the Hurst Center complement the look and feel of the existing structure. A corridor connects the two facilities, providing plenty of space for gatherings and events scheduled in the two buildings. The Dr. Ezekiel R. and Edna Wattis Dumke Legacy Hall on the main floor can accommodate up to 220 people and opens out onto the Jerry Moyes Garden Patio south of the Alumni Center.
In addition to providing an enhanced gathering place for campus and community events, the Hurst Center houses staff for WSU’s Continuing Education and the University Advancement division. Employees from these areas moved into the building earlier this month. The facility has offices and workspaces for more than 100 employees.
The Hurst Center offers a one-stop resource for individuals interested in enrolling in continuing education courses.
“It’s a wonderful new location for both our customers and our staff,” said Laird Hartman, dean of Continuing Education. “The facility provides a great resource and convenience for WSU students, and Dumke Legacy Hall will allow us to host conferences and seminars here in the center.”
“This building is a testament to using space wisely,” Halverson said, noting the efforts taken to situate the building between the Alumni Center and Promontory Tower to the east. Halverson is especially proud of efforts to preserve the oak grove nestled between the Alumni Center and the new Hurst Center.
The building features an open-office workspace design, which Halverson said will be a model for future facilities on campus. The building’s energy-efficient design and construction makes it a candidate to join Elizabeth Hall as the second Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified building on campus. LEED certification is granted through the U.S. Green Building Council.
Visit weber.edu/wsutoday for more news about Weber State University.
Fast Facts:
Architect: MHTN Architects of Salt Lake City
General Contractor: R&O Construction
Division of Facilities Construction and Management
Project Manager: Mark Halverson
- John Kowalewski, director of Media Relations
801-626-7212 • jkowalewski@weber.edu - Contact:
Laird Hartman, dean, Continuing Education
801-626-6789 · lhartman@weber.eduBrad Mortensen, vice president for University Advancement
801-626-6002 · bmortensen@weber.edu