The University of Utah today announced a landmark $75 million gift from the George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation to establish a new 800,000-square-foot state-of-the-art hospital and medical campus in West Valley City, marking a historic expansion of health care access for westside communities.
The gift will enable the construction of the university's first off-campus hospital in its 175-year history and its largest multi-specialty health clinic. This expansion is a vital step in increasing health care access across Salt Lake County, ensuring that the more than 725,000 residents living west of I-15 have greater access to hospital care, where currently only one in 10 hospital beds serve the area.
The new campus will anchor an innovative $855 million university initiative that extends beyond health care delivery, providing additional training, research, and educational opportunities and career development in health care while catalyzing economic development that will build local prosperity.
“This groundbreaking investment continues the Eccles family's extraordinary legacy of expanding health care access and education across Utah,” said Taylor Randall, PhD, President of the University of Utah. “For 60 years, the Eccles family has offered both unwavering leadership and financial support for excellence in health care throughout the state. In fact, in 1965 a critical contribution from Spencer S. Eccles helped establish the U’s medical library, and George S. Eccles chaired the first fundraising campaign to build University of Utah Hospital in 1975. Most recently, the family made a monumental gift to the Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine in 2021. We are so grateful to the Eccles family for their leadership in expanding access to U of U Health's outstanding medical care, ensuring more westside communities have the high-quality health care they deserve.”
Located in Utah’s second largest city, the new University of Utah Health campus will feature a 90-bed hospital and comprehensive multi-specialty outpatient clinics including heart care, orthopedics, women’s health, and pediatrics, in addition to general internal medicine and urgent care. With 200 exam rooms, the clinics are expected to serve more than 341,000 outpatient visits annually. The campus will also provide additional pathways for education and career advancement in medical fields, creating over 2,000 new jobs in the West Valley area.
“We're thrilled to partner with the West Valley community to expand access to high-quality health care on the westside," said Bob Carter, MD, PhD, CEO of University of Utah Health. “Currently, westside residents drive more than 12 million miles per year to access U of U Health services. This new campus is exciting because it will bring comprehensive, top-tier health care closer to home. We also see this project as key to expanding educational opportunities and helping to address our shortage of doctors, which is five times greater in western Salt Lake County than in other Wasatch Front communities.”
The need for expanded health care in West Valley City is critical to addressing various social determinants of health. Current data shows that West Valley residents experience:
- A life expectancy nearly 10 years lower than in eastside communities
- Nearly twice the rate of heart disease-related deaths compared to eastside communities
- A 44% higher rate of diabetes
- A 38% greater prevalence of stroke
“As a family and as a Foundation, we are so thrilled about this project because this community—right here in our Salt Lake Valley—has not had access to the kind of world-class medical care that they deserve,” said Spencer F. Eccles, Chairman and CEO of the George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation. “Our hope is that this hospital and health campus will become an indispensable community resource, a hub for superior health care, education, and training, and expanded economic opportunity. This campus will be a win-win-win for those living in West Valley and all along the Wasatch Front for years to come.”
Since the hospital was publicly announced last year, the community has been actively involved in the planning process, with hundreds attending numerous stakeholder meetings.
“West Valley City is the second largest city in Utah and has a growing demand for hospital and specialty services,” said Karen Lang, Mayor of West Valley City. “We are so excited to have this incredible commitment by the University of Utah, the Eccles family, and other donors whose support make it possible. These new state-of-the-art medical facilities will be a wonderful addition for our entire community.”
Construction of the new health campus is anticipated to begin this summer. The multi-specialty health clinic is scheduled to be completed in 2028, with hospital rooms expected in 2029. The campus will be located on 22 acres in West Valley City at 3750 South and 5600 West.
About the George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation
The George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation has awarded nearly $1 billion in grants since 1982, representing a significant investment in the economic vitality and future strength of Utah and the Intermountain West. The Foundation's grants span five focus areas: Arts & Culture, Community, Education, Health & Wellness, and Preservation & Conservation. Supporting health care initiatives has been a cornerstone of the Foundation's mission, carrying forward the legacy of George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles, who played a pivotal role in establishing the University of Utah's medical expertise.
About University of Utah
The University of Utah is the state’s flagship institution of higher education, with 18 schools and colleges, more than 100 undergraduate majors and graduate programs, and an enrollment of more than 36,000 students. It is a member of the Association of American Universities—an invitation-only, prestigious group of 71 leading research institutions. Ranked #1 public university in the West by the Wall Street Journal, the U strives to be a model public university in delivering unmatched value in higher education and health care while making social, economic, and cultural contributions that improve the quality of life throughout the state, the nation, and the world.