Sep 03: Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah celebrated a major milestone Tuesday in the development of Huntsman Cancer Institute in Vineyard, gathering community leaders, elected officials, donors, supporters, and residents for a cornerstone celebration marking the start of vertical construction on the future cancer campus.
The event celebrated Huntsman Cancer Institute’s long-term commitment to Vineyard, Utah County, and the families who will benefit from expanded access to cancer care, research, education, and innovation throughout the region.Since the groundbreaking in April 2025, months of planning, design, engineering, and site preparation have transformed the future campus from a concept into a visible presence within the community.
Crews have prepared the site, removed groundwater to enable excavation, and installed 830 deep foundation supports that will help anchor the building for decades to come.Now, the project enters an exciting new chapter as foundation work continues and vertical construction begins.
The milestone marks the transition from site preparation to the visible rise of a new cancer care and research facility that will bring lifesaving services closer to patients, expand research and innovation, and strengthen access to comprehensive cancer expertise for communities throughout Utah and the Mountain West.
The need remains clear: In 2025 alone, Huntsman Cancer Institute hosted more than 52,000 patient visits from Utah County and adjacent areas, with patients traveling approximately 3.9 million miles—the equivalent of 86,000 hours of travel time.
The Vineyard location will ease the travel burden for patients in central and southern portions of the state and beyond, saving patients more than two hours of travel time per visit, or an estimated 1.1 million miles per year.
“Huntsman Cancer Institute in Vineyard is about much more than a new building,” says Bradley Cairns, PhD, chief executive officer of Huntsman Cancer Institute.
“It’s a deliberate commitment to grow with Utah County by becoming a steady, trusted presence in this community. We are listening, learning, and working alongside local leaders, health partners, educators, businesses, donors, and families to expand access to cancer prevention, screening, treatment, innovation and hope. At the center of that work are our patients. Their courage gives purpose to every scientific discovery, every clinical advance, and every connection we build.”
The project is entering a new phase for both the construction team and the surrounding community. With site preparation, groundwater removal, excavation, and deep foundation work complete, Huntsman Cancer Institute in Vineyard is beginning to move above ground—turning months of complex construction into visible progress toward a future destination for cancer care, research, education, and discovery in Utah County.When complete, the 284,000-square-foot campus will expand Huntsman Cancer Institute’s ability to serve the state and region through comprehensive cancer care, research, education, and training in Utah County.
The cornerstone celebration offered a symbolic moment of permanence, honoring the supporters who helped build the foundation for the campus and the patients and families it will serve for generations.
The cornerstone celebration reflected the broad coalition helping bring Huntsman Cancer Institute in Vineyard to life: patients, donors, public officials, community partners, educators, researchers, clinicians, scientists, staff, and residents who share a commitment to expanding access to cancer care and discovery.
Speakers spoke about the power of partnership among community leaders, government officials, educational institutions, health care organizations, and philanthropic supporters to create lasting benefits for future generations.Utah House Speaker Mike Schultz highlighted the importance of collaboration and long-term investment in improving quality of life for Utah families.
“This is a powerful example of what we can accomplish when Utahns come together,” Schultz says. “By bringing world-class cancer care, research, and innovation closer to Utah families, we are investing not only in better health today, but in a stronger, healthier future for generations to come. I’m grateful to the Huntsman family, the University of Utah, our community partners, and everyone who has worked together to make this vision a reality.”
Utah Senator Mike McKell delivered remarks on behalf of Utah Senate President J. Stuart Adams and the Utah State Senate, recognizing the future campus’s impact on cancer care, research, and innovation across the state.“Huntsman Cancer Institute in Vineyard represents the best of Utah: innovation, collaboration, and a commitment to improving the lives of Utahns,”
Adams says.
“By expanding access to world-class cancer care and creating new opportunities for research, education, and innovation, this campus will give more Utah families hope when they need it most. It will strengthen our communities, advance groundbreaking discoveries, and help ensure Utah continues to lead in developing treatments and cures that improve lives for generations to come.”
The City of Vineyard has played an important role in helping bring the project from vision to reality. As construction activity becomes increasingly visible, city leaders say the campus represents both a health care investment and a symbol of the community’s growth and future.
“We believe in growing with intention, and Huntsman Cancer Institute’s future campus represents the kind of growth that will strengthen our community for generations,” says Vineyard City Mayor Zack Stratton. “This investment will bring world-class cancer care closer to Utah County residents, create meaningful jobs, and help build a healthier, more hopeful future for families across our region.”
During the celebration, speakers also recognized the role of philanthropy in making the project possible. Huntsman Cancer Institute’s growth has long been driven by the generosity of donors, community advocates, and partners who share a commitment to reducing the burden of cancer.Michael Delzotti, FAHP, CFRE, president and chief operating officer of Huntsman Cancer Foundation, emphasized the significance of reaching a milestone community members can now see and experience.
“Today, we celebrate the next step in the construction of Huntsman Cancer Institute in Vineyard,” says Delzotti.
“More than just a building, the Vineyard location embodies hope, bringing comprehensive care closer to patients and accelerating groundbreaking research that will bring us closer to a world without cancer. This essential work would not be possible without the generous support of philanthropic donors and other partners who are invested in improving care and ultimately ending cancer once and for all.”
David Huntsman, president of the Huntsman Family Foundation, reflected on the Huntsman family’s enduring commitment to expanding access to cancer care and supporting discoveries that improve lives.
“We are so excited that this incredible facility will increase access to world-class health care for residents of Utah County and beyond,” Huntsman says. “A special thank you to the passionate teams helping make this incredible effort possible.”
The event’s theme, The Rising Future of Hope, Discovery, and Healing in Utah County, reflected the project’s broader purpose: creating a place where patients receive care, scientists pursue discoveries, students train for future careers, and families find hope close to home. The ceremony featured a formal cornerstone dedication symbolizing permanence, partnership, and a shared commitment to future generations.University of Utah President Taylor Randall also recognized the importance of creating opportunities for future researchers, clinicians, and health care professionals. He highlighted recent graduates from Utah County universities who are already contributing to cancer research at Huntsman Cancer Institute, underscoring the connection between education, innovation, and the future workforce that will help shape cancer discoveries for decades to come.
“The University of Utah’s mission is to serve our state by expanding opportunity, advancing discovery and improving lives,” Randall says. “Huntsman Cancer Institute in Vineyard brings that mission to life. It creates a place where students can see a future for themselves in science, medicine, engineering and innovation, and where the next generation of Utah leaders can help shape discoveries, build careers and improve the lives of families across our state and far beyond it.”
For Huntsman Cancer Institute leaders, the cornerstone celebration served as both a celebration and a reminder of the work that made this moment possible. Construction of the building’s exterior structure will begin in fall 2026. By summer 2027, the building is expected to be fully enclosed, allowing interior construction and systems installation to move forward. The facility is anticipated to receive its certificate of occupancy in June 2028, with the first patients expected to be welcomed in September 2028.As construction continues, the campus will become an increasingly visible part of the Utah County landscape.
And while the campus is under development, Huntsman Cancer Institute is serving the community through student training including the Huntsman Cancer Institute-Utah Valley University Health Collaborative and the Huntsman Cancer Institute-Brigham Young University Bioinformatics capstone projects. Cancer prevention and early detection is supported through frequent community-based screening events served by Huntsman Cancer Institute’s Mobile Cancer Screening and Education Clinics, coordinated in partnership with the Utah County Department of Health.
Additional work is underway to advance research goals, to develop opportunities for business innovation, and to listen and learn from the community that has welcomed us. Each stage of development will bring Huntsman Cancer Institute in Vineyard closer to its ultimate purpose: expanding access to cancer care, accelerating research discoveries, educating future generations, and improving outcomes for patients across Utah and the Mountain West.