New BYU Music Building Nears Completion

_{By Zach Collier}

For decades, all art disciplines have more or less been under one roof at Brigham Young University. But as programs have grown in size and prestige, the Harris Fine Arts Center has grown increasingly crowded.

The fine arts center is one of the most-used buildings at BYU, hosting over 500 performances each year. Some programs, like the BYU Commercial Music Program, have been forced to spread out across several buildings on campus. Expansion was long overdue.

BYU originally announced construction of a new music building in February of 2020. Work began in earnest on June 15 that same year. This new facility includes practice rooms, small and mid-sized recital spaces, and a thousand-seat Vineyard-style concert hall for major shows and concerts. With four floors, the building will be 170,000 square feet upon completion.

A lot of Provo’s growth and development stems from Brigham Young University. The school choosing to prioritize the arts – especially music – is a big win for the local scene. Student musicians will have better rehearsal and performance experiences, which will bleed into the broader quality of Provo music culture.

The building was first planned to be in-use by Fall 2022, but is now expected to open in Winter of 2023.

Check out a time lapse of construction below.