Construction for a new Utah State University building in Moab broke ground on Thursday.
USU’s new academic facility in Moab is a combustion-free building that includes solar energy and highlights the beauty of southern Utah's natural landscape, according to the university’s website.
Lianna Etchberger is the Associate Vice President of USU Moab, and she said this new campus building will help locals who would be unable to go to college so far away from home.
“It’s really incredible to have in the state-wide system that we have to be at these places where folks--they can’t just pick up and go to Logan," Etchberger said. "It’s so important to be here and provide these opportunities to folks who can’t just pick up and go.”
Not only will the building help locals and non-traditional students in south-eastern Utah continue their education, but it fits the highly sustainable environment that many locals maintain in Moab.
“Moab is a green community; this community is very interested in being sustainable and responsible," Etchberger said. "And as I talk to folks like architects and other people about having a net-zero energy building is huge because most people don’t want to put that money upfront.”
Etchberger said it is USU’s first net-zero energy building, meaning it generates as much energy as it consumes in a year. It will also include USU's largest solar array and ground-source heating and cooling.
For more information and current updates of the construction process visit statewide.usu.edu/moab/newcampusfor more.
