Austin Community College plans to host a ground breaking ceremony for its ACC Highland renovation at 10 a.m. March 27 outside the former J.C. Penney store at Highland Mall, located at 6001 Airport Blvd.

The event is open to the public. Those who wish to attend must RSVP by March 22 by calling 512-223-7595 or emailing [email protected].

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 that includes a math emporium located inside the former J.C. Penney store.

That emporium, which is ACC's first renovation project at Highland Mall, is expected to open in fall 2014. The emporium will serve as an open lab learning space for students to learn mathematics curriculum at their own pace. 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.

"ACC Highland will be a state-of-the-art learning environment and a center for expanding our partnerships in the community," ACC President Richard Rhodes said in a news release. "This facility will serve and benefit the entire region, and we're excited to get started on the renovation."

For updates on the Highland Mall project, visit www.austincc.edu/highland.