Ellington

HATTIESBURG, Miss. (AP) — The University of Southern Mississippi has officially started construction on Century Park South, which will provide 954 beds for freshmen and other scholarship students.

A groundbreaking for the $55.6 million project was held Tuesday on the Hattiesburg campus.

The project will feature three buildings with five floors in each structure.

Officials say Buildings B and C are expected to be completed in July of 2014 with 511 beds available for the fall semester.

Building B will be designated as Luckyday Citizenship Hall pending approval by the state College Board. It will house Luckyday Scholarship students and Luckyday offices. The Luckyday Foundation made a $4 million gift commitment toward construction of the Century Park South complex in November of 2011.

Building A is scheduled for completion in January of 2015.