"If you need some motivation in your life or if you need to be surrounded by other motivated people, you'll definitely get it here," she said. "I know my future cofounder is going to be someone I met here."
"We can work together to build each other's companies and build each other up," Porter said.
Porter founded Celebrate Everyday, a nonprofit that provides free prom and wedding dress rentals across Utah, before she arrived at Lassonde. But since, she's said the community has helped her continue to develop her organization.
... or even go on a bike ride along one of the nearby trails.
... hang out by the fire pit...
... kick back and play video games with friends...
... head up to a second floor patio to gaze out at Salt Lake City...
When they need a break, students can try out vintage arcade games, pool, or ping-pong...
"You walk around here and it's like, 'What are you working on?'" Porter told Business Insider. "'What's your side project?' People love to share what they're doing and love to help you out in your situation."
The result of this blend of living and work spaces is a collaborative atmosphere, according to Porter.
Porter said, in addition to the first floor and the common areas, popular hang-out spots include the fourth floor hammocks and comfy couches on the fifth floor.
The common areas are popular spots to mingle. There are plenty of couches, tables, and booths, along with free laundry machines there. "It becomes like a water cooler, where students actually interact with each other while they're doing their laundry," D'Ambrosio said.
For the 400 Lassonde residents, living options include single rooms, double rooms, lofts and pods. Porter said she lived in a pod — a community of 20 people with several shared bathrooms and a large kitchen.
Porter said there's also a meal cart where chefs can experiment, create, and serve the students new dishes.
You can also grab a bite to eat anytime. The 24 hour Miller Café serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, is open to the public. "I feel like everyone does homework until two in the morning," Porter, a computer engineering major, told Business Insider. "Being able to eat while doing that is really nice."
"You could have a brilliant idea at 2 a.m. or you could have a brilliant idea at noon," Yazdani said.
Yazdani said the building is also meant to accommodate different students' varying work styles and schedules. So allowing students to work and live in close proximity was crucial.
Deninger and Yazdani were going for a startup-like vibe that the students can make their own. "We were building a facility much like a library or a student union that was a crossroad, it was a destination, and it was a place where it catered to a wide range of students," Yazdani said.
If you need tools and supplies for a project, you can access vending machines filled with hammers, mallets, and wrenches with your student ID.
On the first floor, there's also room for 20 student-run business to set up offices.
Once you're in, you'll find a ton of furniture for students to move around and shape the space with.
"You don't have to sign up for any specific class, you don't have to pay any fees, you don't have to join any program," D'Ambrosio added. "Your first point of engagement is just to walk in the building."
Lassonde Studios is located smack dab in the middle of the University of Utah's campus, making it somewhat of a focal point.
You can also stop by and use building's free 3D printers.
So anyone can reserve a Lassonde conference room.
"We wanted to make it as open and porous as we possibly could and so the main floor of the innovation space is open to any student on campus, 24 hours a day," D'Ambrosio said.
But everyone on campus is welcome.
D'Ambrosio told Business Insider 1,400 students submitted essays, videos, and Facebook pages in order to snag a spot this semester. Only 400 made the cut.
"Basically it's focused on ideas and thoughts and shared passion for whatever it is they're trying to accomplish," Deninger told Business Insider. "That's what's bringing the students together, as opposed to a year by year definition."
Anyone at the school can live at Lassonde — you just need to submit an application explaining why you want to.
The inhabitants of Lassonde range from freshman to PhD candidates. And they're not just business students. 75 different areas of study are represented among the residents.
Students first moved into the $45 million structure in August 2016.
The building and program are named for Canadian businessman and philanthropist Pierre Lassonde, who received an MBA from the University of Utah. He's donated a total of $25 million to both.
