Breaking Ground and Barriers: Ruth McKee School of Business Nears Opening 

By: Lily Mutai 

The Ruth McKee School of Business at Southern remains on track to open in Fall 2026. The new facility, now three years in the making, will house Southern’s business department, the school’s second-largest major. 

“Funded entirely through the generosity of Southern alumni and friends, the project will be completed debt-free without increasing tuition costs for students,” said Ellen Hostetler, vice president for Advancement. 

Hostetler added that the building will provide a “space for innovation, entrepreneurship, classrooms, labs and an auditorium that serves both the business school and the wider campus.” 

The project is on target to finish in Summer 2026 and to open in Fall 2026, according to Vincent Schober, associate vice president for Financial Administration and Facilities. Schober noted that installation of the highly visible grand staircase and windows, is on the horizon. 

Despite significant progress, construction has not been without setbacks. Danny Ford, the construction project manager, noted that the biggest challenge up until just a couple of months ago was the amount of rainfall in the area through May and June. 

 “We actually set a rainfall record in May for the most rainfall measured in the month of May for this area,” Ford said. “It made working in the mud around the building difficult.” 

According to Ford, the site itself also presented complications. Since the land was once a swamp, he had to devise “creative” solutions to keep the project moving forward, many of which drew on Ford’s agricultural background. In addition, the building’s close proximity to nearby roads caused problems for construction efforts. 

Regardless of the challenges, Ford highlighted new features of the building. 

“A unique feature is the boardroom on the fourth floor,” he said. “The university has never had an exclusive place for the board to meet.” 

The building will also include a versatile lecture hall that can be rearranged for a variety of student uses. One of its most striking features is how its design emphasizes large windows that fill the space with light. The facility will provide study rooms on every floor, along with classrooms. 

“I’m just excited to see it completed,” Ford said, “and see how all of it comes together.” 

Students are looking forward to the changes, as well.  

“Brock Hall is too cramped,” Braden Larsen, a sophomore marketing major, stated. “The building will look good at the university entrance.” 

Ford explained that overcoming obstacles by offering solutions that were able to quietly save the university some money has made the process more rewarding. He also encouraged students to remain patient throughout this process. 

“Improvement sometimes takes longer than you think,” Ford said. “Southern is dedicated to providing education in the best environment possible. This building is another example of how Southern is dedicated to Christ-centered, well-rounded education.”