Since breaking ground in July, construction on University of Utah Health’s newest major project has moved forward steadily. The Eccles Health Campus and Eccles Hospital in West Valley, now in early construction, is designed to transform access to health care for Salt Lake County’s west side. Upon completion, the campus will feature a 130-bed hospital, comprehensive specialty services, and more than 1,200 new jobs for the surrounding community. The project represents a $1 billion-plus investment in a neighborhood where residents have long faced barriers to accessing major medical facilities.
Listening to the Community
Community engagement has been central at every stage of planning for the Eccles Health Campus. University leaders and staff meet regularly with residents and city officials to ensure community voices shape the project.
The sixth community meeting, held Oct. 7 at Hunter High School, provided another opportunity for a conversation between West Valley residents and University of Utah Health leadership. Bob Carter, CEO of University of Utah Health, and other University of Utah and U of U Health leaders shared critical updates and invited attendees to ask questions about site design, education, workforce pathways, and ongoing community engagement.
These regular meetings are intended to share progress, gather feedback, and ensure the campus reflects West Valley priorities, from facility design to the types of programs that will serve the neighborhood.
Full-service Health Care is Coming by 2029
The design team is creating a facility that is both state-of-the-art and welcoming, with U of U Health employees and residents of the west side in mind. The campus will feature four main public entrances that provide direct, accessible routes to outpatient clinics, the emergency department, and surgical services.
Inside, planned amenities include a café, retail pharmacy, gift shop, chapel, and community education spaces, all carefully selected to meet the needs of both employees and the local community, and to create a campus that feels community-oriented and focused on healing.
Construction Timeline and Milestones
University of Utah Health has partnered with the Okland Construction and design partners MHTN and Cannon Design on a phased construction schedule. Once built, the facility will open over a 12–18-month timeframe.
• 2025–2027: Active construction, site development, activation planning, and temporary clinic
• 2028: Opening of outpatient facilities
• 2029: Diagnostic and treatment center operations begin
• 2029 - 2030: Full inpatient hospital services launch
University of Utah Health and our construction partners have established a site concerns hotline for residents: 385-509-5020. This hotline offers a convenient way for residents to report issues, such as noise, access concerns, or other on-site problems.
1,200 New Jobs and Workforce Development
The Eccles Health Campus will serve as a major economic catalyst for West Valley City, creating over 1,200 positions across various fields, including clinical, administrative, maintenance, and technical roles.
To build a local pipeline of talent, the University has partnered with Proxima Careers, a workforce development initiative that connects community members to health care career pathways. Through skills training and educational supports, Proxima Careers prepares participants for meaningful roles within University of Utah Health.
Hiring for the Eccles Health Campus is expected to begin in late 2027.
Temporary Clinic Opens Ahead of the Full Campus
Recognizing immediate needs, University of Utah Health plans to open a temporary clinic at the north end of the project site by spring of 2027. The clinic will be fully accessible to the public, providing primary care, preventive screenings, and specialty care, bridging the gap while the main campus construction continues.
Community Investment Trust: Shared Ownership and Wealth-Building
To promote local wealth building, the University is exploring a Community Investment Trust (CIT) that would allow residents in surrounding ZIP codes to invest small monthly shares in local commercial real estate (final property TBD). After completing a peer-led financial literacy course, residents could invest $10, $25, $50, or $100 per month. Shareholders would receive dividends from building rent and could benefit from long-term appreciation.
Beyond financial returns, the CIT would include resident board representation, ensuring ongoing local input in CIT-related decisions. Modeled after a successful pilot in Portland, Oregon, the initiative aims to make economic growth accessible and ensure that West Valley residents can directly benefit from neighborhood development.
The University is identifying suitable properties and funding sources. Residents interested in learning more can contact nina.linchenko@hsc.utah.edu. Upcoming listening sessions will be scheduled to gather feedback from residents.
This description is not intended, nor should it be interpreted, as an offer to sell securities or as a solicitation for any offer to purchase securities; it is provided for informational and educational purposes only.
Community Partnerships Supporting Health and Education
Several community-based programs already complement the Eccles Health Campus project and advance the University’s three pillars for West Valley City: Health, Education, and Impact.
- PASO A PASO: A participatory diabetes-prevention initiative grounded in community research, employing 20 trained facilitators who deliver culturally relevant strategies to Latino families.
- Westside Leadership Institute (WLI): A collaboration offering leadership training for residents. The next Fundamentals course begins in January 2026 and is available in English (West Valley City) and in Spanish or English (Salt Lake City).
The University is committed to investing in West Valley’s health and leadership long before the hospital opens, and to continuing those partnerships afterward.
Looking ahead
As the Eccles Health Campus takes shape, it symbolizes a long-term commitment between the University of Utah and the residents, leaders, and partners of West Valley and the surrounding communities. Focused on health, education, and impact, the campus will bring University of Utah’s world-class care closer to home and build community prosperity.
Stay updated at westvalley.utah.edu for the latest project news and event announcements. For questions or community partnership inquiries, contact the Community Collaboration team at westvalley@utah.edu.