Engineering Building
Built in 2018
Engineering Building: Where We Began (1953)
Just east of BYU’s Student Service Center once stood the Fletcher Engineering Sciences Laboratory, a landmark that marked the university’s first major step into engineering education. Completed in 1953 and expanded in 1954, the H-shaped structure was designed to house civil, electrical, mechanical, and chemical engineering programs, with a central core for faculty offices. Built during a time of rapid global technological advancement, the Fletcher Laboratory was a cornerstone of President Ernest L. Wilkinson’s vision to establish a strong Engineering Science Department and modernize BYU’s academic offerings.
The building was named in honor of Harvey Fletcher, a pioneering scientist, engineer, and BYU’s first physics graduate. Born in Provo in 1884, Fletcher was a once-in-a-generation mind whose work shaped the fields of acoustics and audio technology. Known as the “Father of Stereophonic Sound,” he was the first to record and demonstrate stereo sound, helped develop the first functional hearing aid, and created the 2-A audiometer, a tool still used today to diagnose hearing loss.
Fletcher’s influence extended far beyond the lab. As a student, he helped lay out the iconic block “Y” on the mountainside. He later led BYU’s Physics Department from 1911 to 1916 and eventually became the founding dean of the College of Physical and Engineering Sciences. Though the Fletcher Laboratory was removed in 1998 as part of a campus modernization initiative, his legacy endures in the very foundations of BYU’s scientific and engineering pursuits.
Built in the 1970s to accommodate the growing popularity of the engineering field, the Clyde Building has served as the house of the Civil and Environmental Engineering, Chemical Engineering, and Electrical Engineering departments. It was named after Springville, Utah construction business owner and generous donor to BYU, Wilford W. Clyde.
In 1923, W.W. Clyde began the construction company that to this day bears his name. Richard Clyde, W.W. Clyde's grandson, said the construction company has been in the family for four generations. The W. W. Clyde Engineering Building (1974-Now) is one of the engineering buildings on the campus of Brigham Young University.
At the dedication of the W.W. Clyde building in 1976, President N. Eldon Tanner said Wilford Woodruff Clyde “was one who enthroned work at the ruling force of his life. He was one who was a builder who did not spend his time tearing down, but who built.”
Engineering Building: Where We Are Now
Today we honor the past as we move into a new season, a new engineering building, and a new engineering research laboratory, I pray we will always remember those who have gone before.” These words, shared by Elder David A. Bednar during the opening day devotional, marked the beginning of a new era for engineering at BYU.
Nearly 18,000 BYU alumni and supporters contributed to raise the $85 million needed to complete the university’s ambitious new addition to its engineering facilities.
The new Engineering Building officially opened on September 4, 2018, after 27 months of construction. Located on the east side of campus, the five-story, 200,000-square-foot structure features striking floor-to-ceiling windows on the ground level, allowing natural light to flood the space.
Inside, 38% of the building is dedicated to lab space, and 27% is reserved for classrooms and project areas. The building also houses the main offices for BYU’s engineering departments. A sky bridge connects it to the adjacent W.W. Clyde Building, enabling seamless transitions between lectures and hands-on lab work. Its design incorporates energy-efficient systems and sustainable practices, in line with BYU’s ongoing commitment to environmental stewardship.
Adding to the building’s appeal is “Harvey’s,” a café located on the main floor, which serves three meals a day
The Engineering Building is more than just a space, it’s a launchpad for innovation. Self-flying drones, rocketry, robotics, ultra-energy-efficient vehicles, advancements in wheelchair design, and contributions to one of the world’s largest radio telescopes are just a few examples of the groundbreaking projects recently developed by students in BYU’s College of Engineering.