Construction is well underway on Villanova’s $250 million transformational project along Lancaster Avenue, writes Natalie Kostelni for the Philadelphia Business Journal.

When completed, the project will create six new dorms for 1,110 students, 25,000 square feet of retail space, and a performing arts center. The retail space will house a school apparel store, bistro, and convenience store, all owned and operated by the university.

Robert Morro, Vice President of the Facilities Department at Villanova, noted that the development is the single largest project in the school’s history.

Despite nearby residents’ concerns that increased traffic on area roads would exacerbate stormwater runoff, the school was given the go-ahead from Radnor last year.

“The project will be completed in four phases, but the heart of the project won’t start until next year,” said Mike Armento, Senior Vice President of Torcon, the company doing the construction.

The first phase will add parking spaces around campus to compensate for those lost by the new development. All four phases should be complete by the summer of 2019.

Read more about the project in the Philadelphia Business Journal by clicking here.