University of Utah Breaks Ground on Unique Facility for Entrepreneurs

Recognition for its excellent entrepreneurship program is not new for the University of Utah. Just this year, the Princeton Review ranked the school’s David Eccles School of Business No. 23 on its list of Top 25 Entrepreneurship Programs in the nation. The Business School’s Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute is now breaking ground on a new endeavor that is unmatched by any other school.

“Lassonde Studios”

The Lassonde Studios, a $45 million expansion to the Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute, is casually labeled “the garage.” It will be a 20,000-square-foot, 400 bed facility open to all students that come to the institute to attend events, build prototypes or launch a business. Undergraduate and graduate students can take advantage of the unique combination of a living environment combined with a studio. They will have access to light manufacturing resources, fabrication facilities and other entrepreneurship resources. Troy D’Ambrosio, executive director of the Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute, explained, “Students can go to class and if they are inspired at two or three o’clock in the morning, they can get up and work on their idea.” It’s the perfect atmosphere of resources and creative minds from varying backgrounds. The new facility is scheduled to open in fall 2016.

What Else Sets Them Apart?

The Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute has other unique opportunities for students. For example, this past fall the institute launched a new entrepreneurship certificate for undergraduates. It’s an annual program that brings together thousands of students for business plan competitions, innovation tournaments and many other hands-on learning activities.

It’s no wonder the Princeton Review ranked the University of Utah at No. 23 out of 2,000 schools nationwide. The annual survey analyzes faculty, course work and special activities outside the classroom. The University of Utah excels across the board.