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Dixon Middle School

750 N 200 E, Provo, UT 84601

Endangered: Imminent

2026

County

Utah

Year Built

1931

Architect

Joseph Nelson

National Register?

No

Status

Endangered: Imminent

Status Explanation

Dixon Middle School is set for demolition. The Provo City School District plans to tear down the 1938 building as part of a larger campus redevelopment, with work set to begin in July 2026. The school does not have local landmark status or any protections against demolition. It is one of the few New Deal-era school buildings left in Utah County and among the last PWA Moderne civic buildings in Provo. As of May 2026, the district has not shared any plans for adaptive reuse, and no preservation group has secured a promise to stop or delay demolition. With demolition set for July 2026, this is the most urgent case on the 2026 list.

About the Threat

Demolition is scheduled for July 2026. Following the relocation of Dixon Middle School students to Shoreline Middle School in 2024, the building is currently used by the Provo Police Department for K-9 training exercises in preparation for demolition. The Provo City School District issued $70 million in Municipal Building Authority (MBA) bonds to fund the final phase of Timpview High School construction and to initiate construction of a new Timpanogos Elementary School on the Dixon site. Provo voters rejected a 2019 bond proposal to demolish and replace Dixon by a 2-1 margin. The new school will be approximately half the size of the existing 1931 building.

Access

No; students were relocated to Shoreline Middle School in 2024. The building is currently used for police K-9 training in advance of the scheduled July 2026 demolition.

History

No; students were relocated to Shoreline Middle School in 2024. The building is currently used for police K-9 training in advance of the scheduled July 2026 demolition.

What can be done? What was learned?

With demolition scheduled for July 2026, opportunities for preserving the building are now extremely limited. The most impactful actions at this stage are documentation and advocacy for salvage. Encourage the district to incorporate historic elements, such as architectural details, brick, stonework, or the distinctive battlement features, into the new building design. Comprehensive photographic and measured documentation of the building prior to demolition should be prioritized. Community members can contact the Provo City School District Board of Education to request a formal salvage and documentation plan https://provo.edu/board-of-education/

What is the timeline?

Demolition is scheduled for July 2026, and the decision is effectively final. MBA bond funding has been secured, and the design and construction team was assembled as of spring 2026. The only remaining consideration is the district's stated openness to incorporating elements of the original Dixon building into the new design.

What has been the public discussion?

There has been extensive public discussion of the Dixon site's future over several years. The Provo City School District's 2019 bond proposal, which sought to demolish and replace Dixon, was rejected by voters by a 2-1 margin. This was followed by multiple community meetings, public hearings, news coverage, and a sustained advocacy campaign. The district subsequently pursued Municipal Building Authority bonds, thereby achieving the same outcome without a public vote. The Save Dixon Middle School Facebook group and blog played a central role in earlier advocacy efforts. As of April 2026, some community members continue to attend district meetings and public sessions, even as demolition proceeds. The district has indicated openness to incorporating aspects of the historic building into the new design.

Links to more information and articles.

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