Utah Legislature Approves New Classroom Building

Published: March 30, 2020 | Read Time: 2 minutes

Southern Utah University has received appropriation from the Utah Legislature for a new classroom building. The $43 million legislative appropriation will construct a 90,000 square foot building that will add 14 new classrooms, seven computer labs, eight teaching studios, and numerous faculty offices.

“I’m thankful for House and Senate approval of the new building,” said SUU President Scott L Wyatt. “This new facility couldn’t come at a more critical time. As Southern Utah University continues to grow, it’s essential we meet the needs of our increasing student population. The new building is not only needed, but it will also be a welcome addition to our campus footprint.”

The three-story building will be located on the corner of 200 South and 800 West, just south of the America First Event Center. It will house the Art and Design Department, SUU’s new Film Studies program, the History, Sociology, and Anthropology Department, the Mathematics Department, portions of the Aviation Department, and some faculty and staff members from other academic areas.

Approval of the new facility was spearheaded by the southern Utah legislative delegation - Senator Evan Vickers, Senator Don Ipson, and Representative Rex Shipp.

“I'm very pleased with the way SUU embraced the challenge to design and build a classroom building with an intentional eye to fiscal responsibility,” said Senator Don Ipson, vice chair of the Executive Appropriations Committee. “SUU's facility management team has worked closely and productively with MHTM architects and the state's Division of Facilities and Construction Management to find new solutions for a beautiful building that is flexible, adaptable, cost-effective and will meet the needs of SUU students for years to come.”

“The construction of the classroom building will not only greatly benefit SUU but it has the potential to really help the whole state of Utah,” said State Senator Evan Vickers, Senate Majority Leader. “New buildings in our state have become very expensive and the new SUU classroom building is a pilot project using a process that could very well reduce the costs of future construction projects. Congratulations to President Wyatt and his team for working with the state on this process. I also want to thank Senator Don Ipson for taking the lead in allowing this pilot project to move forward.”

The design of the new building maximizes square footage efficiency and preserves much of the current Multipurpose Quad. Parking for the building will be in a new lot across the street and in the stadium parking lot to the west. Once the final design is finished, construction is expected to begin in the fall of 2020. The building will be complete and ready for classes in January 2022.

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