New McKay Complex Renderings Released

Renderings from August 2023 announcement, Ariel view of campus. — Conceptual renderings of the new McKay Complex at the center of BYU–Hawaii.

As previously announced, the BYU–Hawaii Board of Trustees has committed to making an unprecedented investment in the future of BYU–Hawaii. This investment will renew the university’s buildings and infrastructure for the next 50 years. The BYU–Hawaii President’s Council is grateful to be entrusted with this stewardship and committed to fulfilling it righteously. “Planning for and building the university of the future is an exciting and complex endeavor," said Kevin Schlag, operations vice president. "We are blessed to have the Board of Trustees fully engaged in discussions and decision-making at every stage of this process.”

The guiding principles for campus planning include:

Reduce and simplify: Focus on what matters most in the simplest practical way.
Flexible and adaptable: Design spaces that can suit various activities and quickly adjust to university program changes and teaching methods. Future-proof the university for the next 50 years.
Enhance the student experience: Design spaces focused on student needs first.
Embed the mission and vision: Buildings are a constant reminder of the prophetic foundation and continuing purpose of our campus.

During this process, we’ve held close to 50 meetings and focus groups with faculty, staff, students, and the community. Additionally, diverse survey responses from employees and students were collected on multiple occasions. “We are grateful for the input and feedback we’ve received thus far,” said Schlag. “This is a monumental project to remake a large portion of the BYU–Hawaii campus while maintaining the spirit and character of this special and historical place so dear to our hearts.”

Schematic design is almost complete. We will begin construction documents soon, and we have been meeting with the City & County of Honolulu to coordinate the permitting process. Construction is anticipated to commence in the first half of 2025.

Conceptual renderings have been developed to show the design of the new buildings. As schematic design is finalized, the campus community will be updated with further announcements.

We invite your feedback and input, specifically on architectural motifs that help tell the BYU–Hawaii story. Interested participants are invited to participate by contributing to a collection of images, ideas, designs, photographs, and more that will help inspire the design and decor. We also encourage suggestions on what should go in the new welcome center and have begun collecting personal stories and memories on the McKay Complex webpage.

McKay Complex Renderings August 2023 Announcement

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Front view of the new welcome center at dusk. The center’s large a-frame windows were inspired by David O. McKay’s dedicatory prayer in which he stated, “May there radiate from these buildings an aura of light as tangible as personality radiates from each individual, influencing all to live clean and upright lives, to seek truth diligently, to be inspired so to live that others seeing their good deeds may live to glorify Thee, our Creator, our Father, our God.”

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Interior view of the welcome center that will hold historical, cultural, and religious displays. The building will be designed to portray the importance of Christ, light, learning, and intercultural appreciation which are a large part of the mission and vision of BYU–Hawaii.

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Front view of the new welcome center from the middle of the new flag circle. The welcome center features a large a-frame in the central entryway with office spaces on either side.

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Aerial map of the overall McKay Complex project. The map features new McKay buildings highlighted in the darker gray color within the Academic Oval in addition to current campus buildings for reference. The flag circle will be moved forward toward the front of campus and serve as the main front roundabout for traffic. The new McKay complex includes five new buildings and a plaza continuing through the middle of the campus connecting one end to the other.

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Behind the new welcome center will be a central courtyard and an additional three-story building. The circular courtyard will be designed to be the center, or piko (navel), of the campus. In the Hawaiian culture, the piko is representative of one's connection to their parents and covers one's na'au, or core, which holds wisdom and knowledge. The first floor of the new facility will house the student hub, student resource offices, and dining options. The second floor will have faculty offices and student study space. The third floor will have executive offices and conference space.

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One view of a walkway between the different McKay Complex buildings looking toward the center courtyard with the welcome center on the right.

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A view of Building E's South entry facing toward the front of campus. This three-story building will hold student-focused spaces such as the student hub, student resource offices, and dining options. The South entryway will lead students to the back of campus and out toward the hales.

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A view of the main entrance of Building D. This building will house the auditorium and performance space for the campus and multimedia studio. This building will be located where the Aloha Center is currently.

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Media Contact: Laura Tevaga