Dedicated July 4, 1937, by LDS Church Apostle David O. McKay as a "sanctuary of beauty and a temple of mediation," this building was one of more than 230 public works buildings constructed in Utah under New Deal programs during the Depression years. It was built to house the Art Association's permanent collection and to serve as the site of the annual exhibit sponsored by the school under the direction of curator Wayne Johnson. Designed by architect Claude S. Ashworth and constructed of reinforced concrete, it is an excellent example of the Spanish Colonial Revival style in Utah. The red tile for the floors was fired and finished at the site. A well-matched two-story wing was added in 1964 as a gift from the Clyde Foundation.