Dr. Lance A. Masters, president and chief executive officer of the college in Greenville, called the project is the first "true living-learning facility" on campus.

Two new housing units and a common support building will be erected on the west end of campus, occupying space that previously housed two fraternity houses, which were demolished in December. It is the first new housing on Thiel's campus in 33 years.

The multi-phase project, which is being handled by Wallace Builders of Pulaski, will feature two 10-unit apartment buildings, arranged in a V-shape. Each apartment will feature four bedrooms, two baths, a kitchenette, living room, storage space and contemporary furnishings. Four of the units will be handicap accessible.

The support building between the two apartment buildings will feature laundry and computer rooms, a lounge, a two-bedroom apartment for the resident director, a living-learning center for international students and a center for fraternities and sororities.

Phase I, said Masters, is only the beginning. Within five years, he said, he hopes to construct a total of four or five similar structures to accommodate 300 to 400 students.