Troy University broke ground Saturday for a new Development and Alumni Center that TROY officials believe will help the university better serve and engage alumni.

The new center, which will be located on the site of the current Alumni House and adjacent lots, will offer a spacious welcome lobby where alumni and guests can gather. The first floor will include a meeting room, a catering kitchen and a boardroom where Foundation and Alumni boards can meet. The second floor will house the offices of the Alumni Association and the Office of Development.

“I’ve often said that the best barometer of what a university can do is what it has done through the lives of its alumni,” said Dr. Jack Hawkins, Jr., Chancellor. “Today, we break ground on a new dimension of Troy University, and this building means a great deal for our alumni, but it also represents the integration of the public and private sectors. This represents a whole new concept in fundraising and weaving together that community of alumni that is so strong and so committed to this university. This is going to be a great addition to Troy University.”

Alumnus and Board of Trustees member Freddie Thomas said Saturday’s groundbreaking had been “a long time coming.”

“Today is a great day in Troy University history,” Thomas said. “I want to say thank you to all of those whose dedication and hard work made this day. I am thankful to be a part of this. We want all alumni to understand that we want you to be a part of this.”

Troy University Foundation Board Chairman Jeff Coleman said the groundbreaking marked an important day in the life of the university.

“I think it is a transformative day for Troy University because we’re going to have a new building for our Office of Development, which ties in very well with our Alumni Association and Alumni Affairs,” Coleman said. “That is what it is all about – connecting the greater, global Troy University family in a facility where people can come to campus and experience TROY like never before. This is long overdue, and I believe it will be a vital resource for Troy University.”

Jack Weaver, President of the Troy University Alumni Association’s Board of Directors, said the day was the first step in the realization of a long-held vision.

“This has been a vision of the Alumni Board for a long time, and the dream is finally being fulfilled,” Weaver said. “We’re excited to have this building completed in the near future and for all Trojan alumni to come back and engage with their university. We are excited for today, but we are also going to build on this day and go forward.”

Alicia Bookout, Interim Vice Chancellor of Development and Alumni Affairs, said the building is expected to take about a year and a half to complete and cost an estimated $9.5 million.

“It’s huge for the university,” Bookout said. “Our offices of Development and Alumni Affairs have never been housed together as an office. So, for us, this is a huge moment that will benefit the university and our alumni.”