Whether you're brand new to campus or just trying to remember which building has the best study nooks, getting to know BYU-Idaho's campus can feel like trying to memorize a maze. From the building with the greenhouses to the one where you can lift weights, each spot on campus has its own unique flavor.
So grab your backpack, your best walking shoes, and maybe a soda from the MC—let's take a casual tour of BYU-Idaho's buildings and what makes them all worth visiting.
Agriculture Engineering Building
Located on the east side of campus, the BYU-Idaho Agriculture Engineering Building houses a large machine shop for repairing and servicing farm machinery. It's also home to a few classrooms and faculty offices, as well as a welding mini-lab where students can practice welding.
BYU-Idaho Center
The gathering place for all big meetings, the I-Center houses the school's largest auditorium. With painting-lined hallways, the building provides a peaceful study space. The BYU-Idaho Center is also home to a large 10-court gym with an upstairs walking track. From weekly Devotionals to basketball games, the I-Center is a popular place for students to gather.
Communications Building
The Communications Building, located next to the student health center, is where the BYU-Idaho Radio station lives.
David O. McKay Library
From the Presentation Practice Center (PPC) to the Tutoring Center and the Iron Acorn Printing Press, the McKay Library doesn't just house all of BYU-Idaho's books; it also hosts other learning opportunities. With three floors, there are plenty of study spots and books to choose from.
Eliza R. Snow Building
The Snow Building is where most of the campus's music and theatre classes are located. It is also home to the Raffati organ and hosts all university theatre productions.
Engineering Technology Center (ETC)
With an automotive lab and an architectural construction lab, the ETC provides additional opportunities for learning and growth at BYU-Idaho.
Ezra Taft Benson Building
Home to the campus greenhouses and BYU-Idaho's wildlife museum, the Benson Building is a hub for students interested in learning more about all kinds of life. The life science departments, biology, applied plant science, agriculture, and horticulture, are located in the Benson Building. You can also find BYU-Idaho's Plant Shop here.
George S. Romney Building
The Romney Building is home to the BYU-Idaho Planetarium and Observatory. The Physics and Chemistry departments and the College of Physical Sciences and Engineering. If you're into geology, the Romney Building also houses the Geology Museum.
Gordon B. Hinkley Building
The Hinkley Building is home to many of the elementary education classes and all of the campus's evening institute classes. It's one of two buildings at BYU-Idaho that contains a chapel.
Hyrum Manwaring Center (MC)
The Manwaring Center is BYU-Idaho's central gathering place. With a food court and several stages and auditoriums, the MC is often one of the most crowded places on campus. The testing center, bowling alley, university store, print shop, and university help desk are also in this building.
Jacob Spori Building
The Spori Art Gallery, student newspaper (Scroll), and BYU-Idaho TV Broadcasting Station (Viking Update) call the Spori Building home. The oldest building on campus, it is home to the Communication and Art Departments.
John L. Clarke Building
Nursing, home and family classes, early childhood development, culinary arts, and fashion design—the Clarke Building could also be considered the jack-of-all-trades building. With a nursing simulation hospital, culinary labs, an interior design lab, sewing labs, and a preschool and toddler daycare center, this building is one of the busiest on campus.
John Taylor Building
One of the most uniquely designed buildings on campus, the Taylor Building hosts the majority of the university's religion courses. Religion courses are part of the school's general education requirements. The Taylor Building also contains the biggest chapel on the campus, with over 400 seats.
John W. Hart Building
The Hart Building is home to most of the campus's physical education classes and activities. In the Hart Building, you can find:
The BYU-Idaho Gym: This massive room includes treadmills, weight machines, bicycles, dumbbells, and other strength training gear.
Pool: From water polo to water aerobics classes to swimming laps, the BYU-Idaho pool is free with a student ID.
Dance Studios: For dance majors and novices, these studios offer a friendly learning environment for all aspiring dancers.
Workout Rooms: The Fitness Center offers countless free workout classes from yoga to high-intensity fitness and pilates.
A Basketball Court: Some of BYU-Idaho's Center Stage concerts are held in this massive gym.
Racquetball Courts: In the basement of the Hart Building, several racquetball courts offer an alternative form of exercise.
Sports Equipment Rental Center: If you're looking for any type of sports equipment, fencing, basketball, racquetball, or pickleball, you can rent it at the Sports Equipment Rental Center in the Hart Building.
The Wellness Center: The Wellness Center is where you can find help with your health goals. With a staff of fitness and nutrition coaches and the ability to run reliable body-mass-index tests, all your fitness needs can be met.
Joseph Fielding Smith Building
The Smith Building is home to the departments of accounting, business, economics, interdisciplinary studies, and language and international studies. From French to marketing, and creative writing to microeconomics, this four-story building is layered with classrooms.
Mark Austin Building
The Austin Building is used by the Agricultural and Technical Education departments. Anything automotive, engineering, construction, electrical, or otherwise can be found in this building. With labs specifically designed for vehicle repairs and maintenance, this building is built for students pursuing a technical education.
Ricks Building
The Ricks building hosts classes on political science, math, and psychology. It's located right next to the Ricks Gardens. With common study areas and large lecture halls, this building is the ideal place for catching up on homework or working on a group project.
Science and Technology Center (STC)
The STC is one of the most prominent learning-dedicated buildings on campus. It hosts four departments: Animal & Food Science, Applied Plant Science, Computer Information Technology, and Computer Science & Electrical Engineering.
Spencer W. Kimball Building
Also known as the administrative building, the Kimball Building is where all the university leadership offices are located. It is also home to the financial aid and other student-related offices.
Student Health Center
The Health Center provides students with a close and reliable option for healthcare. From counseling to flu shots, this is the place to go for a routine checkup or more significant conditions.
Visual Arts Studio
This small building is home to BYU-Idaho's sculpture and ceramics labs.
William F. Rigby Hall
Formerly a dormitory, Rigby Hall now houses many teacher offices and the school's ROTC classes/program.
With so many amazing places to study, create, worship, and work out, BYU-Idaho's campus truly has something for everyone. And when the day's adventures wind down, there's nothing better than coming home to a place that feels just as welcoming as your favorite campus spot.
At Cedar's Housing, we're all about giving you that comfortable, close-to-campus living experience—so you can focus on your classes, make memories, and enjoy your college years to the fullest. After all, a great college experience starts with a great place to call home.
