Carolyn & Kem Gardner Learning & Leadership Building officially opens
Surrounded by various donors, former and current student body representatives, family, students and more, Carolyn and Kem Gardner, alongside David H. Huntsman and Karen Huntsman, cut a big blue ribbon to celebrate the opening of the newest addition to the Utah State University Jon M. Huntsman School of Business, the Carolyn & Kem Gardner Learning & Leadership Building.
Before the ribbon-cuttingon Aug. 29., there were speakers Interim President Alan L. Smith and Dean Douglas D. Anderson and two musical performances: “America the Beautiful” and “Bless this House.” These were sung by the USU Chamber Singers.
Anderson thanked the many organizations that dedicated time to the $32 million building, including donors and construction workers.
“We could not have selected a better team to guide us through the many complexities of construction,” Anderson said.
He also publicly thanked the legislators from the state senate who made a $10 million donation to the building fund. One of his final thank-you’s was to one of the creative minds behind the building.
“We also want to recognize the stunning artwork of Abigale Palmer,” Anderson said. “She is a talented artist from Utah whose pieces were designed specifically with great intentionality, speaking directly to the purpose of the building and capturing the heart and soul of our students who dare mighty things at Utah State. Thank you so much.”
The building currently stands at 45,000 square feet with three floors. It is also LEED Silver green building certified. LEED, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is a globally-used green building rating system. It holds three event spaces, one kitchen and a dining area. It houses multiple collaborative workrooms for student use.
J.J. Watts, USUSA business senator, was in attendance alongside USUSA President Brandon Sorensen.
“It’s more of an experiential learning space, meaning there’s going to be no classrooms in there. It’s going to house five different centers,” Watts said.
The five centers include the Analytics Solutions Center, Huntsman Hive/Freshman Academy — formerly known as the Women in Business Association, or WIBA — along with the Huntsman Scholar Program, the Stephen R. Covey Leadership Center and the Center for Entrepreneurship.
Ten students across each of the centers shared testimonials on how their organization has impacted them. They spoke about various trips out of the country, networking opportunities and personal growth.
After the student testimonials, the Huntsman family spoke.
“It seems like yesterday that my husband and I sat in the kitchen with a pad of yellow paper thinking, ‘I want to be able to offer a fabulous business world experience for the people in southern Idaho, northern Utah. What better place can there be than Utah State?’” said Karen Huntsman regarding her late husband Jon M. Huntsman.
The program concluded with more remarks from the Gardner family, followed by Watts and Sorensen leading attendees in a rendition of “The Scotsman.” Former USUSA President Abe Rodriguez was also in attendance, as he was a part of the early conversations for the building.
After the ribbon-cutting ceremony, attendees and students were invited to an open house of the new building, where they enjoyed Aggie Ice Cream and live music.