ST. GEORGE, Utah — On Monday, May 5, local construction manager Watts Construction held a groundbreaking ceremony to commemorate the start of construction for their new 11,514 square foot office building on Mall Drive. The new headquarters marks a major milestone in the company’s 57-year history and ongoing growth in Southern Utah.
The building will consist of two floors and a walkout basement, with a stucco, brick veneer, and ACM panel exterior. Watts Construction will occupy the top floor, while the second floor has 3,700 square feet available for lease.
The groundbreaking ceremony was well attended by members of the community, including public officials, trade contractors, clients, and key partners who collaborate with Watts. Annie Howell, CFO and co-owner of Watts Construction, emceed the event, which featured remarks from Doug Watts, former CEO; Jeff Mathis, architect and owner of MRW Design Associates; and Danielle Larkin, St. George City Council member.
Watts opened his remarks by reflecting on the company’s history and the offices they’ve had throughout their 57 years in business. He then turned his attention to the current era of the company.
“With this new building, Chris [CEO] and Annie [CFO] now have a home to house more employees than the prior two generations ever had,” Watts said. “Today this would not be happening without them. Watts has had a lot of ups and downs over the years while at the same time managed to stay local through three generations of construction management.”
Mathis spoke about the longstanding relationship between MRW and Watts, having partnered on countless projects over several decades. Larkin echoed the sentiments about the value of local, family-owned companies and the importance of their collaboration in community development.
“We have so much love for these companies and so much appreciation for all that you do to build our community,” Larkin said. “On behalf of the Mayor and City Council, please just know how much we are grateful for you. We’re really excited about this new project, it’s absolutely beautiful.”
After the speeches, the project team and public officials ceremonially broke ground, gold shovels in hand, a symbolic moment celebrating the beginning of a new chapter for Watts Construction.
“This is the foundation of our future,” said CEO Chris Boudrero. “This groundbreaking symbolizes growth, opportunity, and our commitment to building something lasting for our team—so we can continue building our community.”
About Watts Construction
Watts Construction is a local commercial general contractor. They were founded in 1968 and have been located in St. George, Utah, since 1984. Watts provides construction management services starting at any point in the development process. They build commercial, hospitality, civic, senior living, condos, and industrial projects. They are a key player in Southern Utah, having built many flagship structures in the community, including the Zion Factory Stores, Washington City Recreation Center, and the new Washington County Administration Building.