By the Education Magazine | June 11, 2026
The University of Utah has received approval to purchase approximately 45-46 acres of land at The Point in Draper for a new health campus. Approved by the Point of the Mountain State Land Authority, the project expands access to advanced healthcare, research, and medical innovation for Utah’s growing population.
According to the board meeting on Wednesday, the appraised cost of the land to build a “full-scale hospital” was $43.47 million. The board agreed that the University of Utah to build new medical campus supports the vision of The Point development.
Co-chair Lowry Snow stated, “This is not just about the University of Utah or Utah Health. This is a blessing that’s going to benefit all the citizens potentially of the state of Utah by bringing world-class treatment, research, and medical innovation to Utah.” He also suggested that while the official development timeline is 5-10 years, it is possible that construction could begin sooner.
What is The Point in Draper?
The point consists of 600 acres of state-owned land, and the 45-46 acres purchase agreement is a small portion (approx. 6-7%) of the total site. The site is considered to be one of the most important opportunities to provide quality of life to Utah citizens.
The development plan of the point includes a pedestrian-priority area, a Central Green, regional trail connections, transit-oriented development, a balanced mix of jobs, housing, retail, shopping, entertainment, and so much more.
Timeline for University of Utah New Medical Campus Development
The announcement of the University of Utah to build new medical campus comes with exclusive rights to the parcel for an initial 12-year period, with an automatic 30-year extension if specific development standards (such as a 200,000-square-foot medical facility) are met.
Kerry Owens, chairperson of the Parsons Behle and Latimer law firm, mentioned the closing and due diligence schedule in the University of Utah purchase and sale agreement, which is as follows:
- 60-day title review period
- 120 to 180-day diligence period
- 15 days to closing
With this plan, the board is aiming for a closing in the November to December 2026 time frame.
How is the New Medical Campus Beneficial for Utah?
The University of Utah to build new medical campus at The Point in Draper is set to transform healthcare access, bringing internationally recognized medical innovation and cutting-edge treatment right to Utah’s doorstep.
Co-chair Lowry Snow emphasized that this project fits perfectly within the board’s original legislative mandate. He predicted that the medical campus would become a place of “international renown” and would serve as a center for medical innovation between the West Coast and Chicago.
Similarly, Troy Walker, a member of the board, recognizes this deal as a “tremendous opportunity” for a permanent, world-class institution. He concluded his remarks with, “Go Utah!”
On the other hand, the U.’s board of trustees concluded the discussion within three minutes, but no comments from the board; only Bob Carter, CEO of University of Utah Health, said, “The idea here is to bring care closer to home for those in the southern part of the valley.”
The project is also expected to complement Utah’s broader higher-education and healthcare workforce pipeline, alongside institutions such as Utah Tech University.
End Note
The decision for the University of Utah to build new medical campus at The Point in Draper has received strong support from the Point of the Mountain State Land Authority. Officials believe the project will increase healthcare accessibility, medical innovation, and establish a world-class health destination for Utah residents. As development moves forward over the coming years, the new medical campus is expected to play an important role in meeting the state’s future healthcare needs.
