Rachel's SLC History: Naval Sciences Building, University of Utah

12 November 2020

Naval Sciences Building, University of Utah

Naval Sciences Building in Aug 2019

This is the Naval Sciences Building at the University of Utah located at 110 S 1452 East SLC.

In the fall of 1945 the University of Utah accepted a Navy V-12 ROTC (Reserve Officers’ Training Corps) Unit and in accepting that unit the "U" became obligated to construct this building, the 3rd in the USA to be built under the V-12 Navy College Training Program. The program aimed to produce additional commissioned officers in the Navy during WWII.

This Art Deco Style building was designed by A. B. Paulson, who also designed the Villa Theater on Highland Drive and the LDS 12th Ward at 630 E 100 S.

The Naval Sciences Building was completed and in operation by June 1947. About half of the building consists of a large room designed to simulate a Navy Destroyer in which was placed a 16-ton 5-inch anti-aircraft gun removed from the battleship USS Colorado. Other simulated rooms included a ships bridge, operations room, and radio room. A small arms range was (and still is) in the basement.

In addition to other Naval artifacts, the ship’s bell from the USS Utah which was destroyed during the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, is on display in the building.

The bell was donated in 1961 to the Utah State Historical Society and was transferred to the Naval Sciences Building in 1966 where it was on display for decades outside and in front of the building.

In 2017 the bell was cleaned and conserved by the Naval History and Heritage Command and returned to the Naval Sciences Building where it now resides inside the lobby.

Sources: Deseret News 1947-04-12; University of Utah Board of Regents minutes 1945-1947; USHPO building file.