The McKay Education Building has seen decades of usage throughout its lifespan, which has spanned over 53 years since it was first built in 1972. The McKay building was one of the oldest remaining buildings before its renovation started, leaving only a small handful of buildings left on campus that were built before 1992.

The McKay building has been shut since May 2023, and though it had been originally set to be reopened in December 2024, construction slowed to a halt when original blueprints failed to match up to the current structure of the building. This caused months more of work to be done due to safety concerns within the building’s foundations.

Chad Downs, a project manager for Weber State Facilities Management, has helped with the modernization movement throughout campus, including the work done on Stewart Stadium and Lindquist Hall.

Downs has personally been overseeing the renovation for the past year and a half to the McKay Education Building, which had previously been known throughout campus for its block-like structure brick-and-concrete build.

“It was more of a fortress because of the concrete panels and little slit windows. It’ll be more welcoming, and it’ll bring people through and they’ll want to come in,” Downs said.

The redesign of the building will boast an all-new floor plan that prioritizes more windows and natural lighting to be seen all throughout the structure. Solar panels have been mounted to the roof with an all-electric system and a HVAC water loop tied throughout the campus underground system, meaning the McKay building will be almost completely carbon neutral.

The McKay Education Building’s entire renovation was state-funded with no student tuition going toward the structure. The building was originally set to cost around $25 million, but due to remnants of COVID-19 and the foundation’s problems, it ended up costing $34 million, according to Downs.

The construction left many Weber State staff without a place to call their own, which led to them being moved around the campus as they tried to find a space.

Lisa Karle, the administrative assistant for Teacher Education and the department chair, currently resides at the Stewart Stadium while waiting for the building to be finished, but she’s feeling optimistic about the situation.

“It’s like a fresh start. I think it’s just going to be helpful, especially when it’s nice and sunny outside, and you can see it. It’ll just boost your mood,” Karle said.

The McKay Education Building is set to be reopened by summer 2025.