the first college classes, which eventually became the classes of unlv, were offered as the southern regional extension division of the university of nevada, in 1959 in a classroom at las vegas high school. in 1955, state senator mahlon brown "sponsored the legislation to provide $200,000 to construct the campus's first building" - frazier hall. groundbreaking on the original site was in april 1956, and the university purchased a site in north las vegas for future expansion. unlv was officially founded by the nevada board of regents as the southern division of the university of nevada on september 10, 1957. the first classes were held on the current campus in the post and beam mid century modern maude frazier hall designed by the local architectural firm, zick & sharp. twenty-nine students graduated in the first commencement ceremonies in 1964.