The site of the old Provo High School owned by Brigham Young University is pictured Monday, May 19, 2025, in Provo.
Brigham Young University has identified where it will build its future medical school.
The school announced Monday its board of trustees approved BYU's West Campus, the site of the old Provo High School, as the location for the recently announced BYU School of Medicine.
The property sits between BYU's main campus and Utah Valley Hospital, where future BYU medical students will conduct clinical training through a partnership with Intermountain Health.
"Since its announcement, the BYU School of Medicine has received tremendous interest," BYU President C. Shane Reese said in a release. "We appreciate the enthusiasm and support for the BYU School of Medicine from people and organizations across the world."
The school said the planning and construction of the new medical building will not interfere with the operation of the College of Fine Arts Communications, which is located in the west campus building until the new arts building opens at the end of 2025.
The Church of Jesus Christ Latter-day Saints announced July 29, 2024, plans to build the BYU School of Medicine, with a focus on training and researching to address international health issues and support the church's humanitarian efforts.
BYU has periodically disclosed additional information on the future medical school since, announcing last September the school will offer a Doctor of Medicine degree and naming Mark Ott as the inaugural dean last October.
BYU purchased the property from the Provo City School District for $25 million in 2016. The new Provo High School was built on the city's west side and opened in 2018.
Many people predicted the site as the likely landing spot for a new medical school, as evidenced by people's reactions to the news via social media Monday.
"When they originally bought this land I thought it might eventually be for a new medical school. Pretty cool to see it happening now," Brian Thomas said on X.
"I've known it will be there ever since they bought the school and especially when they announced the medical school," added Nicholas Ledbetter via Facebook. "It's a great location for it, I'm excited for this new era for BYU."
Others expressed curiosity of what will become of the infrastructure on the campus.
"I just hope they rebuild it for them because it was already in rough shape when I graduated in 2013," Provo alum Sara Alicia Estrada-Mordecai told the Daily Herald. "I can't imagine retrofitting everything a med school needs into the current building."
"Can't wait to see some of the renderings of the new medical campus as they replace the old high school," Clint Carlos said via X.