Dixie State University began construction on its new Human Performance Center with a groundbreaking ceremony and open house that celebrated the addition of the allied health facility to campus.

Dixie State University began construction on its new Human Performance Center with a groundbreaking ceremony and open house that celebrated the addition of the allied health facility to campus.

The ceremony took place at noon on Oct. 25 at the Human Performance Center build site, which recently has served as the Student Activities Center parking lot. Immediately following the groundbreaking, Dixie State held an open house, providing the community with an opportunity to see renderings, ask questions and learn more about the facility.

“The Human Performance Center will change the landscape of Dixie State University — not only physically by adding a beautiful building along University Avenue, but also academically by providing the resources necessary to prepare students for careers that will meet the healthcare needs of Washington County,” said Richard Williams, DSU president. “We are excited to add this facility to campus and get the construction process under way.”

DSU is working with Layton Construction, MHTN Architects and Hastings+Chivetta design services on the 155,00-sq.-ft. facility, which is expected to be ready for the fall 2019 semester. The $55 million project is funded by appropriations from the Utah State Legislature, student fees, and donations from Washington County, the city of St. George and private contributors.

The facility will hold the specialized classrooms and labs DSU needs to offer health and human performance programs such as recreation and sport management and population health and exercise science. The center also will provide the space necessary to partner with the University of Utah to offer physical and occupational therapy programs in southern Utah.

In addition to housing Dixie State's Campus recreation and intramural programs, the building will include exercise facilities such as basketball courts that convert to indoor soccer venues, a student fitness center, a climbing wall and an indoor track that connects to an open-air rooftop one via a suspended sprint track. Additionally, the roof will provide space where the University can host special events outside.

The center will feature a 50-m Olympic-sized swimming pool with deck and spectator space, making it the only pool in southern Utah to meet NCAA requirements to host Division II meets and only the second in Utah to do so.

The Human Performance Center also will cater to the needs of southern Utah's event-based tourism industry. The facility will be equipped to host local, regional and state high school gamesswim meets, Huntsman World Senior Games competitions, and community-sponsored sporting events.

Preceding the groundbreaking ceremony, the DSU Health & Counseling Center hosted the active learning-active life Wellness Fair, showcasing services that support mental and physical health throughout Washington County.

To read a previous story about the Human Performance Center, see Dixie State Awards Building Contract to Layton Construction.

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