Construction has been under way for months, but Troy University officially broke ground on its $8 million fraternity-housing project Saturday.

“The heart of our social system continues to be the Greek system,” said Chancellor Jack Hawkins Jr. “What we do through the Greek system is establish friendships that last a lifetime.”

The project will construct seven new fraternity houses along Pell Avenue, where the other homes have stood for decades.

Each home will be two stories in height and sleep 24 students, and they will also contain a chapter room, social room and laundry facilities.

Hawkins said Troy’s sororities were served well in 1997, when the university purchased the Alabama Baptist Homes on Elm Street. However, fraternity members were residing in out-dated homes.

“This new village will reshape our Greek system forever, and I believe it will make us a stronger university,” Hawkins said.

Troy’s Senior Vice Chancellor of Advancement and External Relations John Schmidt, who first “put the wheels on the project,” attested to the value of Greek life.

“In a galaxy a long time ago, Dr. Hawkins…and I were young and fraternity members,” Schmidt said. “They are truly laboratories of life. You learn about yourself, and you learn about each other. It was a galaxy a long time ago, but these friendships have been forever.”

The university’s project, funded through a 2009 bond issue, will also provide funding for a new dining hall and multi-purpose sports arena.

Not all of Troy’s fraternities will be a part of the village. Those that will are: Sigma Chi, Lambda Chi Alpha, Alpha Tau Omega, Pi Kappa Phi, Delta Chi, FarmHouse and Sigma Alpha Epsilon.