By Jeff Hunter ’96

“What goes up, must come down,” states a well-known proverb. And that includes the machine that moves materials up and down.

In mid-November, employees from Rocky Mountain Crane braved the elements and acrophobia to dismantle a construction crane temporarily located on the southern edge of the Logan campus of Utah State University.

The crane was the westernmost of two, 213-foot-high hoists assembled in April 2024 by RMC to aid in the simultaneous construction of three new structures in the South Campus area just off U.S. Hwy. 89. The second MDT 219 crane was still in operation as the calendar turned over to December.

Utilizing space created by the demolition and removal of Ella V. Reeder, Ethelyn O. Greaves and Johanna Moen residence halls last year after nearly 70 years of service, crews are currently hard at work constructing a new building for the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business, as well as a parking structure and residence hall.

The six-story, suite-style housing complex is being built directly south of the western end of Merrill Hall, which will eventually be replaced by another six-story residence hall. The new building and a five-story, 343-stall parking terrace to the west are both slated for completion by next summer.

Immediately adjacent to the George S. Eccles Business Building, in the area previously occupied by Moen Hall, will sit the Carolyn and Kem Gardner Learning & Leadership Building (GLLB). The GLLB is a $30 million, 45,000-square-foot structure that will provide space for students to participate in remote internships, as well as the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business’ experiential learning programs and hands-on learning initiatives. The project is slated to be primarily completed by April 2025.