SUU Breaks Ground on New Business Building

Cedar City, UT – August 27, 2024 – Southern Utah University (SUU) has officially commenced construction on the Joe and Beverly Burgess Family Business Center, with a ceremonial groundbreaking held on Monday. The new facility, strategically located at 600 W. University Blvd in Cedar City, is designed to accommodate the rapid expansion of SUU’s Dixie L. Leavitt School of Business.

Dean Ken Hall of the Dixie L. Leavitt School of Business remarked, “While we initially expected our 2018 business building to meet our needs for many years, recent developments have necessitated a new facility. Enrollment has surged from 1,011 to nearly 2,500 students in just seven years, and our full-time faculty count has more than doubled.”

The Joe and Beverly Burgess Family Business Center will encompass 22,000 square feet over two levels, and will be linked to the existing business building via the Alan and Kathy Hamlin Skybridge. This connection will foster enhanced interaction between faculty and students.

Key features of the new building include:

• A cutting-edge professional sales center
• A dedicated career services center
• Specialized spaces for graduate program support, including a classroom and lounge
• An outdoor pavilion for events involving students, employers, faculty, and alumni
• 38 additional faculty offices to accommodate enrollment growth
• The William and Patricia Child Magnet Space for student clubs, recruiting, and networking events

The construction of this building is made possible through the philanthropic contributions of Joe and Beverly Burgess, with additional support from Bill and Pat Child, Alan and Kathy Hamlin, Mark and Jeri Russell, Ken and Kim Scriber, Vince Rosdahl, and Wittwer Management/Boulevard Home.

MHTN Architects will lead the architectural design, while Zwick Construction will serve as the general contractor, with oversight provided by the Utah Division of Facilities and Construction Management and SUU Facilities Management. The project is expected to be completed by the spring semester of 2026.

About the Dixie L. Leavitt School of Business
Accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), the Dixie L. Leavitt School of Business offers undergraduate degrees in accounting, economics, finance, hotel, resort and hospitality management, management, and marketing, along with graduate programs in accounting (MACC), business analytics (MSBA), and business administration (MBA) with various specializations. For more information, visit www.suu.edu/business.