Redevelopments underway after Mountain View Tower demolition

As demolition continues on Mountain View Tower, plans for redevelopment at Utah State University Logan campus are in the early stages.

These plans include connecting the utility tunnel and service road to Bullen Drive, as well as the construction of new academic buildings and replacing aging residence halls.

This is a long-term project expected to take seven to 15 years, according to Ken Carrillo, the director of planning, design and construction for USU Facilities.

Carrillo said the removal of Mountain View Tower is just one piece of a larger proposed redevelopment for Central Campus, and the demolition of Richards Hall and renovation of the Junction will follow.

“Some of these older buildings were built in the ‘60s and ‘70s, so they will need to come down and be replaced in coming years,” Carrillo said.

Mountain View Tower was built in 1966 and housed students until the spring 2025 semester. In its final year of operation, it was evacuated twice due to a chemical spill caused by a student.

Former residents, like Kelli Farnsworth, said that was only one of the issues the building had in its final year.

“There was this lingering old smell about the place that made me feel sick some days,” Farnsworth said. “It also didn’t have AC, so it would get very hot there, especially when I first moved in during fall semester.”

Pieces of Mountain View Tower is torn off the side of the building during it’s demolition on Dec. 11, 2025. Photo by Jack Burton 

According to Farnsworth, there were also elevator issues.

“We had eight floors, counting the basement,” Farnsworth said. “So, with the elevator being down most of the time and the laundry room being in the basement, you had to haul your clothes up and down several flights of stairs.”

Farnsworth said while the building had its various issues, she appreciated how affordable it was.

“I chose Mountain View Tower because I pay for my own school,” Farnsworth said, “so I honestly picked the cheapest option, knowing it would be an old building.”

Farnsworth said she worries that with the demolition of the building, some students may no longer be able to afford on-campus housing.   

Canyon Crest Suites was completed in 2023 as a replacement for Mountain View Tower, according to Jordy Guth, the associate director of planning and sustainability at USU.

“Mountain View was left in place while the South Campus was redeveloped over the past few years to help compensate for the loss of beds during the period of construction,” Guth said.

While Ridge Point Hall, the newest residence hall on South Campus, has been completed, Guth and Carrillo said there are plans to add more housing to accommodate the growing campus.

“We’re not only replacing the existing beds but also planning to add about 10% more,” Carrillo said.

One way this might be done, Carrillo said, is through the renovation of the Junction — one of the campus’s dining halls.

“The first level would be food services, and the levels above would be housing,” Carrillo said.

According to Carrillo, this housing would likely include more private room options.

“Most students are wanting a little bit bigger of a space now, oftentimes single rooms, and those trends drive the style of what we build,” Carrillo said.

In addition to new housing, Central Campus plans include a new academic building on 700 N. This building is yet to be decided on.

“All it takes is one department to come up with funding for a building, and that can kind of change all of our plans,” Carillo said.

While the plans for academic buildings and student housing are still several years out, the construction of the service road started in summer 2025.