Cleary University in Livingston County will break ground Thursday on a 26,000-square-foot classroom building on its Howell campus to accommodate demand in the state's fastest-growing county. The one-story, brick-and-glass building will have eight 1,000-square-foot classrooms, a student lounge, a foyer, an outdoor patio and a catering kitchen. Walls will be retractable so some space can be reconfigured as a single hall accommodating up to 1,400 people for conferences and other events. "This facility is critical for the long-term health and growth of Livingston County," Cleary president Tom Sullivan said. "Since we service primarily working adult students, we need the space to relieve classroom congestion." The university offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in accounting, finance, information systems, management and marketing.