Suffolk and Zwick Construction Selected for Dixie Technical College Technology Building in Utah
Suffolk and Zwick Construction Company have been selected to build a new 91,700-square-foot Trades and Technology Building at Dixie Technical College in St. George, Utah. The project will expand the college’s ability to train students for careers in skilled trades and emerging technologies while supporting the workforce needs of the rapidly growing region.
The two construction companies will deliver the project through a progressive design-build approach. This method will allow Suffolk and Zwick to work closely with the college, design teams and project partners throughout the development process, aligning design and construction decisions and identifying solutions early.
The partnership combines Suffolk’s national experience in higher education construction with Zwick Construction’s established presence and knowledge of the Utah market. Both companies are expected to use their complementary expertise to create a facility that supports Dixie Technical College’s long-term academic and workforce development goals.
John Kemp, Chief Operating Officer, Mountain West at Suffolk, said the college has a clear vision for the new facility and the opportunities it will provide students. He emphasized that the construction team’s role will involve understanding that vision, anticipating challenges and bringing the necessary expertise to each stage of the project.
According to Kemp, the partnership between Suffolk and Zwick provides the technical knowledge, local market understanding and collaborative approach needed to manage the complexities of the project while keeping Dixie Tech’s objectives at the center of the process.
Expanding Career and Technical Education
The new Trades and Technology Building will significantly increase Dixie Technical College’s capacity to educate students in high-demand career fields. The facility is being developed at a time when employers across many industries are seeking workers with specialized technical and hands-on skills.
The building will support the expansion of nine existing programs at the college while providing space for eight additional programs. Among the new and expanded areas will be structural and wildland firefighting, automation and robotics, and composite materials construction.
Several of these programs currently have enrollment waitlists, indicating strong demand from prospective students. The new facility is expected to enable Dixie Technical College to accommodate more students and provide additional pathways into industries that require skilled workers.
By increasing classroom, training and technology capacity, the project is intended to strengthen the connection between technical education and workforce needs in St. George and surrounding communities.
The facility will also provide an environment where students can gain practical experience in fields that are evolving rapidly. Programs involving automation, robotics and advanced materials, for example, require specialized spaces and equipment that can support hands-on learning.
Progressive Design-Build Approach
Suffolk and Zwick will use a progressive design-build delivery model for the project. This approach is designed to encourage collaboration among the owner, contractor and design professionals from the early stages of planning through construction.
Rather than treating design and construction as completely separate phases, progressive design-build allows project teams to work together to evaluate options, identify potential challenges and develop solutions that align with the owner’s goals and budget.
For Dixie Technical College, the approach is expected to provide opportunities to refine the facility’s design around the needs of students, faculty and programs. The construction partners will work to understand how the building will operate and how its spaces can support current programs while allowing flexibility for future growth.
Darin Zwick, President and CEO of Zwick Construction Company, said the partnership is focused on understanding the college’s needs both now and as its programs and student population expand.
Zwick emphasized that Suffolk and Zwick bring different perspectives and capabilities to the project but share a common focus on finding effective solutions for the college and delivering a facility that can serve students and the St. George community for many years.
Strengthening the Construction Workforce
The project also reflects the two companies’ broader commitment to workforce development and the skilled trades.
Both Suffolk and Zwick emphasize investing in their employees, supporting professional development and maintaining strong relationships with trade partners. Their involvement in the Dixie Tech project aligns closely with the college’s mission of preparing students for careers that are essential to the construction and broader technical workforce.
Suffolk has long advocated for greater awareness of skilled-trade careers and the opportunities they can provide. The company views construction as a sector capable of offering rewarding, long-term career paths while helping address the shortage of skilled workers across the United States.
The workforce challenge has also been highlighted through Suffolk’s engagement with Mike Rowe, host of Dirty Jobs and founder of the mikeroweWORKS Foundation. Rowe recently visited Suffolk’s MBTA Bus Maintenance Facility project in Quincy, Massachusetts, where he joined Suffolk Chairman and CEO John Fish, employees and trade partners for discussions about the importance of America’s skilled workforce.
Fish and Rowe have also discussed the growing skills gap and the role that companies and educational institutions can play in creating stronger pathways into skilled trades. That issue closely aligns with Dixie Technical College’s mission and the purpose of its new Trades and Technology Building.
Suffolk’s Higher Education Experience
Suffolk brings extensive experience delivering complex higher education facilities across the United States. Its portfolio includes academic, research, science and technology and student housing projects for major institutions.
Among its projects are Boston University’s Center for Computing & Data Sciences, Brown University’s William A. and Ami Kuan Danoff Life Sciences Laboratories, Northeastern University’s EXP research center, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo’s Student Housing Program and the University of California San Francisco’s Parnassus Heights Campus Central Site Improvements project.
This national experience will complement Zwick Construction’s strong regional presence.
Local Expertise from Zwick Construction
Zwick Construction operates offices in Salt Lake City and St. George, giving the company a strong understanding of Utah’s construction environment and local market conditions. The company’s approach is centered on teamwork, integrity and building trusted relationships with clients and project partners.
By combining Zwick’s local knowledge with Suffolk’s national higher education experience, the partnership is positioned to address both the technical requirements of the project and the specific needs of the St. George community.
The new 91,700-square-foot facility is expected to become an important addition to Dixie Technical College’s campus and a major resource for regional workforce development. As construction moves forward, Suffolk and Zwick will work collaboratively to deliver a building designed to accommodate growing enrollment, support high-demand technical programs and provide students with the skills needed for evolving industries.
Ultimately, the Trades and Technology Building will represent more than a new educational facility. It will serve as an investment in students, employers and the broader workforce of southern Utah, creating additional opportunities for career training and helping Dixie Technical College prepare the next generation of skilled professionals.
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