Troy University broke ground Friday on a new dining facility, and construction is set to begin Monday.

Several roads will be closed during the construction of the dining hall that will be located adjacent to the Hawkins-Adams-Long Hall of Honor near Clements Hall on University Avenue.

University Avenue will close between McKinley Drive and Luther Drive. Those turning onto University Avenue from South Brundidge Street will be rerouted on McKinley Drive toward Lake Lagoona. Those heading to the university from George Wallace Drive will have to turn right onto Luther Drive.

Collegedale Street will remain open during construction, but some of its parking will be eliminated.

The project that hopes to be completed in around a year will seat around 1,000 guests at one time and cost around $11 million.

It will feature four “all-you-can-eat” dining venues, a retail dining area and an exterior courtyard on the first floor. The dining hall will also contain a second floor with another buffet-style venue, another retail dining area and two civic meeting rooms.

Some of the retail establishments will be Boar’s Head, Flying Star Diner, Wild Mushroom and Basic Kneads.

“The two things students complain about most are the parking and the food,” said Troy’s Board of Trustees President Dr. Doug Hawkins. “At least we’re going to do the food and do it up right.”

This will serve as the new dining area instead of Stewart Dining Hall, which was built 43 years ago and has since been outgrown.

“(The students) expect options, and that’s what this will provide,” said Chancellor Jack Hawkins Jr.

The dining hall will be open to the public once it is built. Whaley Construction is responsible for its completion.