Southern Utah University (SUU) has marked the start of construction of its Joe and Beverly Burgess Family Business Center with a groundbreaking ceremony in Cedar City, US.  

The business centre, encompassing 22,000ft² over two floors, is located at 600 W. University Blvd and is expected to support SUU’s Dixie L. Leavitt School of Business growth. 

Dixie L. Leavitt School of Business dean Ken Hall said: “We anticipated that our current business building, completed in 2018, would provide for our needs for many, many years. Or so we thought.  

“However, in the last seven years, student enrolment in the Leavitt School of Business has exploded, growing two and a half times from 1,011 students to nearly 2,500 students this fall [Autumn]! Our number of full-time faculty also increased in that same time period from 26 to 53.” 

The building will feature a professional sales centre, a dedicated career services centre, and specialised spaces for graduate programmes.  

It will also incorporate an outdoor pavilion and event area, 38 faculty offices, and the William and Patricia Child Magnet Space on the main floor. 

Funding for the project has been secured through donations from Joe and Beverly Burgess, the building's namesakes, alongside contributions from other benefactors.  

The architectural planning is being spearheaded by MHTN Architects, with Zwick Construction appointed as the general contractor.  

The project will be managed in collaboration with the Utah Division of Facilities and Construction Management and SUU Facilities Management. 

Construction on the building is anticipated to start soon, with the facility anticipated to open for the spring semester of 2026.