N. Eldon Tanner Building
Built in 1983
N. Eldon Tanner Building: Where We Began (1983)
Business education at Brigham Young University began in 1891 with the founding of the Commercial College, originally housed in the Maeser Building. As student interest grew, the program moved to the Jesse Knight Building before outgrowing that space as well. In response to increasing demand, private donors funded the construction of a new facility, the first building on campus built entirely with private donations. Completed in 1983, the 144,000-square-foot structure became the new home for BYU’s business school.
The building was named in honor of N. Eldon Tanner, a respected teacher, businessman, Canadian political leader, and longtime Church official who served as a counselor to four presidents of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Known as “Mr. Integrity,” Tanner embodied the high moral standards and leadership principles the school seeks to instill in its graduates. Although he passed away in 1982 before its completion, the building was formally dedicated on April 5, 1983, with President Thomas S. Monson offering the dedicatory prayer and numerous Church and business leaders in attendance.
In 1988, the school was renamed the J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott School of Management in recognition of the Marriott family's generous support.
N. Eldon Tanner Building: Where We Are Now
Completed in 1983 and expanded in 2008, the seven-story N. Eldon Tanner Building, with its striking central atrium, was designed to evoke the feel of a corporate headquarters, setting a professional tone for the Marriott School of Business it houses. Inside, flags from around the world hang in tribute to every student who has taken classes at the school, reflecting its global reach and diverse community. The building supports ten undergraduate programs, including accounting, finance, entrepreneurship, HR, information systems, experience design and management (EXDM), global supply chain, marketing, business management, and strategy, making it a dynamic hub for business education at BYU.
This building is named after N. Eldon Tanner, a respected businessman and Church leader known for his integrity and leadership. A native of Canada, Tanner built a distinguished career in both government and business. He served as Speaker of the House in the Alberta Legislature, held posts in the provincial cabinet, led a petroleum company, and oversaw the company that constructed the 2,000-mile (3,220-km) Trans-Canada Pipeline.
The Marriott School of Business is named after J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott, in recognition of their family’s enduring generosity and support of Brigham Young University. J. Willard Marriott, founder of Marriott International, was a pioneering entrepreneur whose legacy of leadership and service continues to shape the school’s mission and values. Today, the Marriott School of Business continues to build on BYU’s legacy. Its accounting and entrepreneurship programs consistently rank among the top three in the nation, a testament to decades of excellence and innovation.