Western Governors University (WGU), a private online university based in Millcreek, Utah, has announced plans to develop a new headquarters in downtown Salt Lake City.
According to the school, the new headquarters will largely span the block between West Temple and 200 West and 400 to 500 South and will be developed in phases as a mixed-use innovation community. At full buildout, the project is expected to include approximately one million square feet of office space, supporting up to 5,000 employees, alongside other mixed-use elements.
Potential resources and amenities at the new headquarters will include a collaboration space for shared R&D, an auditorium, simulation centers, showcase hubs for convening WGU and cross-sector innovation, a WGU welcome center, dining and refreshment options for employees and the surrounding community, an employee cafeteria, and an on-site childcare center. The campus will be designed for LEED and WELL certifications.
“For WGU, Salt Lake City and Utah are not only part of our origin story but also offer a unique foundation for advancing our mission,” said WGU President Scott Pulsipher. “Being headquartered here allows us to support our employees, deepen partnerships, and expand how we build pathways to opportunity for learners. Together, WGU, Salt Lake City and Utah will continue to elevate the belief in the inherent worth of every individual and advance a shared mission to change lives for the better.”
In a statement, Utah Governor Spencer Cox welcomed the announcement, declaring, “Expanding access to education that prepares people for career growth is essential to Utah’s economic success. By establishing its headquarters in Salt Lake City, WGU strengthens Utah’s role as a center for innovation, bringing education and workforce needs closer together and helping advance higher education for learners across the country.”
