OREM, Utah — Business, education, and government leaders celebrated the opening of the new Utah Valley University (UVU) Gateway Building on the south end of the Orem Campus today because of a generous $5 million donation from prominent Utah business leader and UVU alum Brandon D. Fugal.

The three-story Gateway Building is part of UVU’s long-term master plan envisioned in 2010 to address the rapid population growth in Utah. It will house the office of UVU President Astrid S. Tuminez, her administration, and three vice presidents. It will include a board conference area along with state-of-the-art classrooms and serve as a student welcome center for prospective students. The Gary R. Herbert Institute of Public Policy Center will also be housed in the new building.

“Brandon Fugal personifies the greatest qualities we seek to inculcate in our students: grit, intelligence, ambition, innovation, and generosity. The Gateway Building that bears his name will be a wonderful new main entrance to campus,” President Tuminez said. “Many students and families will start their UVU journeys from this building. They will be reminded that their potential, much like UVU alumnus Brandon Fugal’s, is unlimited.”

University leaders are extremely grateful for Fugal’s generous gift. It is fitting that he made the donation, as he was awarded a leadership scholarship and attended UVU in 1994 and is a strong illustration of entrepreneurial success in Utah. He is the chairman and co-owner of Colliers International in Utah, which is the top commercial real estate firm in the state.

“Utah Valley University is my school,” Fugal said. “It is in my DNA. It gave me a solid foundation that helped me launch my real estate and business career. There are many people who taught and showed me the way. Now I want to give back, to help those who follow me. I hope this building stands as a sentinel showing people the power of education and the American dream.”

The Gateway Building will also be home to the Herbert Institute of Public Policy, which has been designed to provide opportunities for students and community members to learn about key public policy issues, civic engagement, and the political process.

The building will host lectures and candidate forums and will be home to local, state, and congressional interns associated with the institute. It will also archive Herbert’s personal papers and artifacts accumulated during the former governor’s service to Utah.

Fugal is a prominent business leader, recognized as a market leader nationwide and as the previous EY Entrepreneur of the Year – Western Region. He was recently named 2021 Office Broker of the Year, for which he has been recognized for most of the past decade. He is also the co-founder of Axcend (a provider of compact nanoflow liquid chromatography systems), Thanksgiving Development, and Texas Growth Fund, as well as manager and investor in numerous ventures.