By: Marian Polanco
Construction of the Ruth McKee School of Business remains on schedule, with plans to welcome students by the Fall 2026 semester, according to Southern Adventist University President Ken Shaw.
Tom Verrill, senior vice president for Financial Administration, emphasized the scale and cost of the project.
“This project is larger than the construction projects completed in recent years, and I am confident it is the largest single financial project ever for Southern,” Verrill said. “Our Plant Services team has implemented cost-saving measures for this building and continues to look for ways of keeping the cost as low as possible while ensuring the building retains the quality expected.”
According to a previous Accent article, Shaw stated that the project was originally estimated to be $20 million, and that they still remained inside the original estimate for the project.
“This facility will include state-of-the-art classrooms, expanded learning spaces and a large auditorium,” Shaw stated. “We have seen a rise in students pursuing business degrees, and this new facility positions our School of Business for continued growth, equipping more Christian business professionals to make an impact.”
Regarding the financial standing of the project, Verrill explained that the university has only been using donations to fund the building’s construction.
“Southern has not received any grants or utilized any partnerships for this project,” he said. “However, we have received over $20 million in donations for this project and expect it will be fully funded from donor contributions.”
Currently, the School of Business is located on the third floor of Brock Hall, and due to the lack of space, many business classes meet in different buildings across campus, according to a previous Accent article. Since the department will be transferring to a new building next school year, its previous classrooms can be utilized by other academic departments, according to Verrill.
“I believe this building will provide a huge benefit for the university for years to come,” Verrill said. “[It] provides space for the growth of the business program, and the relocation of the School of Business from Brock Hall will open up space for the growth of other academic programs.”
According to Verrill, Southern’s administration has incorporated maintenance costs into future financial projections to ensure long-term sustainability. Verrill said administration remains confident that sufficient funding exists to sustain the quality of the building in the future.
As construction continues, Shaw reaffirmed the university’s vision for the project.
“Over the past several years, we have seen an increase in the number of students who desire a business degree,” he stated. “Our new building will provide the potential to grow our School of Business even further and, as a result, provide more Christian businessmen and women to be change-agents in the world.”
