BYU School of Medicine Is Coming to the Old Provo High Site: Renderings, Timeline and What It Means for Provo Real Estate

The BYU School of Medicine now has a timeline and a first look at its future home. On October 14, 2026, BYU President C. Shane Reese announced that the school has received preliminary accreditation and will welcome its first students in July 2027, according to BYU News. BYU also released five renderings of a 275,000 square foot building planned for its West Campus, the site of the old Provo High School on University Avenue. Construction is expected to begin in 2027. This post covers what was announced, where the school will sit, what the timeline looks like, and what it could mean if you own, rent out, or are shopping for a home near BYU in Provo or Orem. Red Sign is a Keller Williams team (KW Westfield) based in Orem, serving buyers and sellers across Utah since 2008.

WHAT BYU ANNOUNCED

The BYU School of Medicine has received preliminary accreditation from the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME), the accrediting authority recognized by the U.S. Department of Education for programs leading to the Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree, according to BYU News. That status authorizes the school to recruit and admit students and launch its MD program.

Reese made the announcement alongside Dr. Mark Ott, the school's inaugural dean, during a livestream on BYU's YouTube channel. "It is indeed a historic day for Brigham Young University," Reese said. The school will begin accepting applications in the coming weeks, according to BYU.

The first class will be up to 60 students, according to the BYU School of Medicine FAQ and The Salt Lake Tribune. Ott told the Deseret News that class size will grow in the future once the school receives full accreditation.

WHERE THE BYU SCHOOL OF MEDICINE WILL BE BUILT

The BYU Board of Trustees approved BYU's West Campus, the site of the former Provo High School, as the location for the school in May 2025, according to BYU News. BYU bought the 25-acre Provo High property at 1125 N. University Ave. from the Provo City School District for $25 million in 2016, as reported by the Daily Herald and BYU News.

The new building will go up alongside the old high school building on the corner of University Avenue and Cougar Boulevard, one block east of Intermountain Health's Utah Valley Hospital, the school's primary clinical affiliate, according to the Deseret News. The Daily Herald describes the property as sitting between BYU's main campus and Utah Valley Hospital.

BYU says the existing track, field and tennis courts on the site are expected to remain available for use through this fall.

WHAT THE RENDERINGS SHOW

BYU released five renderings of the future building. They show a large red-brick building with a central spire and courtyards, with mountains behind it.

BYU says the design draws on Utah's heritage and landscape and echoes the craftsmanship of early Utah community and religious architecture, including the former Brigham Young Academy (now the Provo City Library) and the Provo City Center Temple, according to BYU News. "This building was designed to be far more than a collection of classrooms and laboratories," Ott said.

Rendering courtesy of Brigham Young University.

(BYU) Rendering of the planned BYU School of Medicine building on BYU's West Campus in Provo.

WHAT THE NEW BUILDING WILL INCLUDE

The building is planned at 275,000 square feet. At the main entry, a two-story forum is designed to serve as the heart of the building, according to BYU News.

Learning spaces

Plans call for learning environments ranging from individual to large group, plus simulation-based learning and clinical skills training.

Library and research

The building will include a medical library, anatomy and research laboratories, and a hub for the school's global health and research work.

Student and family spaces

BYU lists community gathering areas, food service, outdoor courtyards, and a family room with a children's play space.

WHERE STUDENTS WILL LEARN FIRST

Enrollment and construction both start in 2027 because the first students will not wait for the new building. While it is under construction, the school's temporary home will be on West Campus in renovated space in the former Provo High School, Ott said during the livestream. Renovations to that space are already underway.

The BYU School of Medicine facilities page says the inaugural classes for 2027 and 2028 will learn in those renovated spaces, which provide more than 84,000 square feet for the program. The interim space includes anatomy and simulation laboratories, team-based learning classrooms, research collaboration and faculty mentoring areas, and student support spaces.

BYU SCHOOL OF MEDICINE TIMELINE

BYU has not given a completion date for the new building. A senior official told the Deseret News that the university must first go through Provo's planning and permitting process, and that international supply chain issues could affect predictions. Confirm current timing with BYU before making decisions based on a date.

WHAT THIS MEANS FOR PROVO REAL ESTATE

• Homeowners near University Avenue and north Provo: a new graduate program, faculty and staff can add to local demand for housing over time. That is general reasoning, not a forecast, and it does not guarantee any change in what a home will sell for. If you are curious where your home stands today, start with a free home value estimate.
• Investors: medical students, faculty and staff all need somewhere to live, and a student population can add rental demand near campus. The first class is capped at up to 60 students, so look at the whole picture, including current inventory and rental rules in your target neighborhood, before buying for income.
• People relocating for the school: if you are joining the faculty or staff, the site sits along University Avenue near Utah Valley Hospital, with north Provo and Orem close by. Browse homes for sale near BYU in Provo to compare neighborhoods.
• Timelines can change. The building still has to go through Provo's planning and permitting process. Review current listings and talk with an agent before making decisions based on the project.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is the BYU School of Medicine?

The BYU School of Medicine is a new Doctor of Medicine (MD) program at Brigham Young University in Provo. It was announced in July 2024 and received preliminary accreditation from the LCME in October 2026.

Where will the BYU School of Medicine be located?

The school will be on BYU's West Campus, the site of the old Provo High School at 1125 N. University Ave. The new building will sit on the corner of University Avenue and Cougar Boulevard, one block east of Utah Valley Hospital.

What is the BYU School of Medicine opening date?

BYU will welcome its first students in July 2027. They will learn in renovated space in the former Provo High School while the permanent building is built.

When does construction begin on the new building?

Construction on the permanent building is expected to begin in 2027. BYU has not announced a completion date, and the project must go through Provo's planning and permitting process.

How big will the BYU School of Medicine be?

The new building is planned at 275,000 square feet. The first class will be up to 60 students, and Dean Mark Ott has said class size will grow once the school receives full accreditation. Red Sign agents can help you compare homes near BYU against your budget and timeline.

Thinking about buying or selling near the BYU School of Medicine site? Red Sign has helped Utah buyers and sellers since 2008 and has earned 1,950+ five-star reviews. Talk with the Red Sign Real Estate Team about your plans, search homes near BYU, or check what your home could be worth.

Sources: BYU News, "BYU School of Medicine granted preliminary accreditation, plans for future building announced," October 14, 2026 (news.byu.edu). BYU livestream, October 14, 2026 (youtube.com). BYU School of Medicine FAQ and Facilities pages (medicine.byu.edu). Tad Walch, Deseret News, October 14, 2026 (deseret.com). Courtney Tanner, The Salt Lake Tribune, October 14, 2026 (sltrib.com). BYU News, May 19, 2025, and April 25, 2016 (news.byu.edu). Daily Herald, April 26, 2016, and May 19, 2025 (heraldextra.com).