The university has been updating its housing complexes since 1992, when it began renovating the eight dormitories in the Helaman Halls facility. That job was finished last summer and the focus shifted to Deseret Towers.

BYU announced last September it would be removing the aging buildings, the first of which were built in 1964. The two buildings to be removed, V Hall and W Hall, are actually the newest structures, having been built in 1969 and 1978, respectively. But the two were targeted for demolition first because they are built on a separate spot, west of the other buildings, and will be easier to remove.

Brian Evans, administrative vice president and chief financial officer at BYU, said in a statement that rising maintenance costs have made it no longer prudent to operate the obsolete buildings, and added that their infrastructure is ill-equipped to deal with the needs of modern students.

"For instance, unlike in 1964 when students came with a radio alarm clock, students now come with computers, MP3 players, hair dryers, curling irons and more," he said. "There are simply not enough outlets to handle their needs."

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