In a controversial announcement, BYU has announced that the long-awaited replacement for the Harris Fine Arts Center was designed by a generative AI model, a first in the field of architecture.

“The new Aarts Billdng represents our campus’s greatest step forward in architecture since the JKB,” a BYU spokesman said.

In front of the building, a statue of former BYU President Franklin S. Harris beckons students to enter with 15 outstretched fingers. Inside, students are greeted with a banner reading “God’s puuuulpse for the artts inspire” followed by a string of unrecognizable characters, described by University administration as a “famous quote from M. Russell Ballard.” A staircase, placed conveniently next to a tree sprouting from the ground, leads directly into a wall.

The American Institute of Architecture condemned the choice to have AI design the building. “We haven’t been this mad at BYU since they opened the JKB,” they wrote in a statement.

On the other end of the spectrum, finance major Colby Talbot praised the decision, stating “AI being more accepted at BYU has been a long time coming. And during midterm season? God really does answer prayers.”

BYU faculty largely declined to comment. One exception was human anatomy professor Sherry Dunncann, who commented, “That statue does not have the right amount of fingers.”

When contacted with a request for comment on the controversy, Microsoft Co-Pilot responded, “As an AI language model, I am unable to comment on this situation.”