HISTORY OF OUR CAMPUS
History of Our Campus
While Neumont College of Computer Science has been around since 2003, our downtown campus has an extensive past. Our building which currently houses our bustling students, staff and faculty had a very different beginning starting in the 19th century.
Beginning in 1860, the building was the location of The Salt Lake House, which served as a home station for weary Pony Express riders. Famous author, Mark Twain, even stayed at the Salt Lake House for a brief time during his travels. In 1924, Ezra Thompson, local entrepreneur and former mayor of Salt Lake City, spearheaded construction of the twelve-floor building you see today that went on to be listed with the National Register of Historic Places in 2012.
Ezra self-titled his work, the Ezra Thompson Building. In 1937, the building was purchased by a local newspaper, the Salt Lake Tribune. The building was home to some of the most advanced technology in the region at that time. Utah’s largest daily newspaper operated out of this building until 2005.
We were thrilled to relocate our computer science college to this campus in 2012. Neumont’s custom renovation took place in 2012-2013 and preserved much of the original design. Our new doors opened in 2013 as we welcomed students to Neumont’s new location. We’re proud to still be a source of education and innovation here at 143 South Main Street.
Recently in early 2020, we welcomed a new neighbor at our front entrance. An eight-foot, bronze statue of beloved Salt Lake City property developer, Vasilios Priskos, debuted in its new home standing tall outside of our front windows. Priskos was a key player in ensuring historical preservation downtown and was one of the developers who helped transition the building for other opportunities following the Tribune’s exit in 2005.
Today, we couldn’t be happier with our campus in the heart of downtown Salt Lake City. Just like our building has changed, so have our surroundings. Next door, the George S. and Dolores Eccles Theater went up in 2016 and hosts Broadway tours, concerts, and an array of other entertaining events. We look forward to welcoming changes in our growing city and continuing teaching at our historic downtown campus.
