A Sept.15 groundbreaking ceremony marked the official beginning of work on Temple’s new Architecture building on 13th Street adjacent to Presser Hall and the Tyler School of Art.

The event, which took place in Tyler’s courtyard, was attended by university trustees, deans, officers and students. Tyler Interim Dean Robert Stroker opened the ceremony by recognizing faculty and administrators instrumental in planning the new facility. Temple President Ann Weaver Hart, Board of Trustees Chairman Patrick O’Connor, board facilities committee Chairman Mitchell Morgan and Tyler architecture student Temitayo Fasusi also offered remarks.

Donning hard hats and grabbing shovels emblazoned with the Temple “T,” Hart, Stroker, Morgan, Fasusi, architecture chair Kate Wingert-Playdon and architect Mykhaylo Kulynych turned over the earth in a ceremonial groundbreaking on the building site.

The opening of the new facility represents another milestone in the realization of Temple’s 20/20 framework development plan. The architecture building will complete a Main Campus mini arts quad that also includes the Tyler School of Art, Boyer College of Music and Dance and the School of Communications and Theater.

Currently, the Architecture program is housed in the Engineering and Architecture building. With the new building, the two programs will have more room to grow. The Architecture building will be roughly 45,000 square feet and cost $10 million. Construction is expected to be complete by fall of 2011.