Harris Fine Arts Center

40°15′0″N 111°38′53″W / 40.25000°N 111.64806°W / 40.25000; -111.64806

BYU Harris Fine Arts Center

The Franklin S. Harris Fine Arts Center (HFAC) was previously the main location for Brigham Young University's (BYU) College of Fine Arts and Communications (CFAC). In early 2023, the building was demolished to make way for a new arts building on the same site.

The HFAC was inaugurated in 1964 and was designed by architect William Pereira[1] in the modernist style popular at the time of its construction. The building was notable for its dramatic multi-floor, open, interior atrium that served as an exhibition gallery and an acoustically-resonate space for occasional concerts. The building’s entrances featured four dramatic open patios. The open design of the patios maximized natural light to multiple wings and created exterior workspaces for students.

The HFAC was located immediately to the south of the Museum of Art, and just north of the Wilkinson Student Center.[2]

In 2022, BYU announced plans to demolish the building and build a new arts building in its place, in addition to the new music building announced a few years prior. Demolition began in early 2023.[3] In the meantime, non-musical programs formerly housed in the HFAC will temporarily occupy renovated space in the former Provo High School building, now called the West Campus Central Building.[4][5]

  1. ^ Durham, Michael S. The Smithsonian Guide to Historic America: The Desert States. (Washington: Smithsonian Books, 1990) p. 377.
  2. ^ "Campus Map". map.byu.edu. Archived from the original on 6 April 2023. Retrieved 2023-04-08.
  3. ^ Everett, Emma (2023-03-06). "Demolition underway on the Harris Fine Arts Center". The Daily Universe. Archived from the original on 6 April 2023. Retrieved 2023-04-06.
  4. ^ Nield, Kelsey Mae (2022-06-06). "BYU announces new arts building to replace HFAC". The Daily Universe. Archived from the original on 7 April 2023. Retrieved 2022-07-06.
  5. ^ Hair, Anna (2022-09-08). "BYU West Campus officially opens to fine arts students". The Daily Universe. Archived from the original on 8 April 2023. Retrieved 2023-04-06.