After nearly ten years of planning and almost two years of construction, the Utah State Developmental Center (USDC) has officially completed its new Comprehensive Medical and Therapies Building in American Fork.

State leaders, including Governor Spencer Cox, joined health officials and community members on Thursday to cut the ribbon on the 64,000-square-foot facility that will bring all the USDC’s services under one roof for the first time in its history.

For over a century, the USDC has provided housing and specialized care for “intellectually disabled adults” who can’t find adequate support elsewhere, according to USDC superintendent Tim Matthews.

“This was created to provide those medical services for people with complex medical issues,” Matthews said. “As it’s developed, now we’re seeing more behavioral health issues, that they’ve experienced trauma, that they can’t keep safe for themselves or other people safe.”

The center delivers 24-hour residential and active treatment care, including physical, occupational, speech and recreational therapy, along with psychological services. Currently, 155 residents live on the campus, supported by a staff of about 700 people spread across multiple buildings.

The new building will consolidate services from aging facilities into a single treatment hub. It includes an audiology suite for hearing exams, training and recreational spaces, therapy rooms, and an ADA-compliant swimming pool designed for residents’ rehabilitation needs.

Earlier this year, Utah lawmakers allocated $1.4 million to help complete the project.

“This is the most vulnerable population in Utah,” Matthews told reporters. “We need the support of the Legislature to make sure that we’re providing the best care and life for them.”

The Utah Department of Health and Human Services says the new design will improve how staff work on campus and could save nearly 30,000 staff hours each year by cutting down on time spent moving between buildings.

The Comprehensive Medical and Therapies Building, located at 895 N. 900 East, will open in phases starting Monday.
The opening marks a major milestone in the USDC’s long-term goal to modernize care for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Local leaders hope the building will serve as a model for similar facilities statewide.

Governor Cox praised the project’s impact on the community, saying it demonstrates Utah’s commitment to caring for those who need it most. “We are investing in people, in dignity and in opportunity,” Cox said during the ceremony.

In the coming months, the USDC plans to expand programming within the new space and integrate new technologies that will allow therapists to customize treatments for each resident’s unique needs. The center will also host community outreach events and professional training for disability care providers across Utah.

Originally reported by Curtis Booker in Daily Herald.