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Friday, August 28th, 2015
For the first time in nearly 50 years, Dixie State University broke ground on a new student-housing complex on campus.
The construction process kicked off Friday morning with a groundbreaking ceremony for the university's Campus View Suites. The complex will be home to 350 students when it opens in August 2016.
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"Saying we're excited is an extreme understatement," Dr. Richard B. Williams, president of Dixie State University, told the standing-room only crowd at the groundbreaking ceremony. "Squealing and shrieking doesn't even begin to describe students' reaction to this project when I talk to them about it."
Williams went on to say his excitement for the new complex stems from the fact that national statistics indicate that students who live on campus while attending college finish college quicker and are more connected to the community. He also said that adding the building to campus directly aligns with Dixie State University's strategic plan, Dixie 2020: Status to Stature. Set to be unveiled at noon on Wednesday, Sept. 23, in the Cox Auditorium, the strategic plan puts an emphasis on active learning, active life. Campus View Suites, Williams said, will play a key role in bringing this motto to fruition.
Seth Gubler, director of DSU Housing & Resident Life, said students have been excited for the addition of a new student-housing complex long before the plans for Campus View Suites were drafted.
Matthew Devore, DSU student body president, echoed the sentiment.
"It is hard to not be excited when I remember the history on the Dixie State University campus," Devore said. "All of the hard work of the university's faculty, staff, and students have gotten us here today. Campus View Suites will enhance the quality of student life and boost the Dixie Spirit."
Method Studio Architects and Layton Construction are working together to design and build the new complex. At the ceremony, Joe Smith, the lead designer with Method Studio Architects for the project, told the crowd the design is a result of great teamwork.
"This really and truly was a collaborative effort. It has been a successful process and an enjoyable one," Smith said. "Your enthusiasm was contagious and very inspiring to the design team."
Now that the design is done, the architecture firm is passing the baton to Layton Construction, Smith said.
Paul Morris, vice president ad administrative services at Dixie State, closed the program by encouraging attendees to imagine the future of Dixie State University and the contributions Campus View Suites will bring to campus' vitality.
"We're dreamers," Morris said. "We love to be dreamers."
The complex will be located immediately west of Nisson Towers, which were constructed in 1968 and were the last student-housing facility to be added to campus.
Featuring suites that will accommodate six students each, the complex will offer each student the option to share a bedroom with another student or have one to him/herself. Each suite will include a comfortable living room space, larger kitchenette and eating space, and bathroom with sinks separate from shower and toilet rooms to help alleviate congestion during heavy usage times.
Additionally, the complex will include a large full kitchen, computer area and laundry room on each floor, providing opportunities for students to build social connections and engage academically with their peers. The facility will also feature a multipurpose room, three activity/lounge areas, an exercise room and a conference room.
When they're ready for study breaks, students will be able to enjoy St. George's sunny weather and stunning views from the complex's multiple decks and courtyards. A large courtyard behind the building will serve as a gathering spot for students with amenities like volleyball courts, barbecue pits and grassy areas.