U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Austin, Austin Mayor Lee Leffingwell and the Austin Community College board of trustees were among the many who celebrated the ground breaking of the new ACC campus at Highland Mall on March 27.

The ground breaking was held outside the mall's former JCPenney store, located at 6001 Airport Blvd. The former JCPenney store is the first renovation of ACC's Highland Mall project and will become ACC's math emporium, which will serve as an open lab learning space for students to learn mathematics curriculum at their own pace. In addition to the emporium, the property will be used for instructional space, a library and a student union facility.

ACC Highland will have capacity to serve 6,200 students and is scheduled to be completed in fall 2014. Highland Mall was Central Texas' first shopping mall in 1971, Doggett said.

"Through the [decades], ACC has really remained true to its commitment about having our students 'start here' to 'get there,'" Doggett said. "Its vision to create and expand innovative learning models like the math emporium really provide a vital pathway to student success."

ACC began purchasing property at Highland Mall in 2010 with the goal of turning it into a center for community and business partnerships as well as a modern educational space, which includes the math emporium. The college purchased the ground lease for the core building of Highland Mall, completing its full acquisition of the property Aug. 7. ACC has spent a total of $43.1 million for the 81 acres at Highland Mall.

"It's an exciting day," ACC President Richard Rhodes said. "It's a great turnout for a great celebration to kick off the redevelopment of Highland Mall."

For updates on ACC Highland, visit www.austincc.edu/highland.