News Released May 15, 2008

Rio Tinto’s Kennecott Utah Copper Donates $15 Million to the Utah Museum of Natural History in Salt Lake City

Community partnership supports education on sustainability and natural sciences

(Salt Lake City, Utah –May 15, 2008) – Kennecott Utah Copper announces a $15 million donation to support the new Utah Museum of Natural History at the University of Utah. When the museum building opens in 2011 in upper Research Park, it will be named the Rio Tinto Center.  Rio Tinto is the parent company of Utah companies Kennecott Utah Copper, Kennecott Land Company and Kennecott Exploration.  The donation continues Kennecott’s 30-year support of the Museum and represents the largest single corporate donation in the University’s history.    

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Utah Museum of Natural History Unveils Design on May 15, 2008

The design by Polshek Partnership Architects / GSBS Architects embodies the Museum's
educational and scientific mission and is emblematic of the landscape and culture of Utah

May 15, 2008 (Salt Lake City, Utah) - The Utah Museum of Natural History at the University of Utah unveils the design for its new museum at 10:30am in the Orangerie at Red Butte Garden.  Architects for the building are Polshek Partnership Architects of New York City and Gillies Stransky Brems Smith Architects (GSBS) of Salt Lake City.  

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Architect's Statement

The design for the new Utah Museum of Natural History embodies the institution's educational and scientific mission to inspire wonder and discovery of the natural world and the place of humans in it.  Moreover, Utah's singular landscape and the ways in which humans have engaged its varied character over time are the touchstone for an architecture that expresses the State's cultural and natural contexts.  This museum will become a primary destination for children, students, natural scientists and visitors to the region.  It will be the "trailhead" for the State of Utah.  The architecture, together with the collections housed within, will crate an inspirational visitor experience and encourage curiosity and inquiry.    

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Images for Download

New Building Aerial View Size: 4920 x 2957 Resolution: 72 DPI Download Image	New Building Front View Size: 4793 x 2064 Resolution: 72 DPI Download Image
New Building Interior View Size: 4578 x 2829 Resolution: 72 DPI Download Image	New Building Site Size: 4160 x 3292 Resolution: 260 DPI Download Image

Media Contact

Patti Carpenter, Public Relations
Utah Museum of Natural History, University of Utah 
Office (801) 585-6369, cellular (801) 910-6397
pcarpenter@umnh.utah.edu