A Vision for the Future

We’re one step closer to walking through the new West Valley Health and Community Center doors, set to open in 2027. Architectural renderings show the look of the facility that was designed with the input of many west side residents in surveys and hundreds of hours of community meetings going back more than four years.

The medical center will include an inpatient hospital and ambulatory building totaling over 750,000 square feet. Offerings and clinics will consist of primary care, cardiovascular, orthopedics, women’s health, disease management, and a surgical and procedural clinic. Behavioral and oral health will also be available and integrated into primary care. 

“The goal is to make the facility a central part of the community,” says Richard Orlandi BS’87 MBA’23, chief medical officer of ambulatory health. Spaces for the public will be made available for community meetings and events, trainings, and classes taught by local nonprofits. Small rooms allow patients to meet with health workers and enroll in community programs. “Everyone wins when the community sees this new medical center as their own,” Orlandi continues. 

What began as a health care initiative and plan to build a hospital has evolved to include academic pathways, workforce development programs, and economic development strategies—all designed to build on existing community assets and the vibrancy of the West Valley area.  

Job training opportunities and new education pathways have been designed to help West Valley students of all ages and life stages move into health careers. The U is working with Salt Lake Community College and other partners to hire and train staff from the local community. 

“We are bringing together the power of health care and education, the knowledge and assets of West Valley communities, and a commitment to measuring and taking responsibility for outcomes. With these ingredients, we can create unsurpassed and sustainable societal impact,” says President Taylor Randall HBA’90.