Gordon B. Hinckley Alumni and Visitors Center

The Gordon B. Hinckley Alumni and Visitors Center is a three-story building which houses alumni association offices on the Brigham Young University (BYU) campus in Provo, Utah.HistoryAnnouncement and fund-raisingIn autumn 2005, BYU announced plans to raise money for a new alumni center named for Gordon B. Hinckley, the fifteenth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church).GroundbreakingOn June 23, 2006, Hinckley's 96th birthday, ground was broken for the building. Hinckley was joined by university administrators, other BYU trustees, and donors. He opted to use a well-worn shovel chosen from his own garden tools rather than the ceremonial blue and white shovels used by other participants, which was later donated to the visitors center after its completion.Completion and dedicationThe building was completed and dedicated exactly one year from the date of the groundbreaking, sooner than expected. Hinckley and other LDS Church leaders attended the dedication where items were collected and inserted into a time capsule. The $35 million project was paid for entirely from donations of over 70,000 individuals including 8,000 students and 49,000 alumni.DesignAt 83,000 square feet, the building has three stories and a lower level. It includes a clocktower and due to its elevation, the building is highly visible from the campus and while approaching the campus.UseThe building acts as a visitors center, contains exhibits showcasing BYU's history, features a small theater and houses alumni association offices for the university.