Construction on the new Doudna Fine Arts Center will start with the removal of asbestos in September, but future steps have not been set in stone.

“The first phase of the Fine Arts project will be asbestos abatement of the entire complex which should begin the first part of September,” said Carol Strode, director of facilities planning and management.

Along with the renovation and expansion of the Fine Arts Center, construction is expected to cost over $48 million in addition to $7.5 million for furnishing.

The building will reach out across Seventh Street to expand on the Clinical Services Building and Health Services Building, which will be relocated next to Thomas Hall on Seventh Street.

The project stands as Eastern’s most expensive undertaking yet.

New and renovated space for the project will include 138,000 square feet of construction.

Strode said the next area of remodeling or expansion will not begin until the college has received contractor bids.

“Bids are scheduled to be taken around the first of November and awarded the first of December,” she said. “We will not know who the contractors are until after the bid process is completed.”

The Fine Arts Center is being renovated after faculty agreed that the building was in desperate need of improvement. The current building lacks reliable heating and cooling systems, adequate space to conduct class and office space.

Developers hope the new building will solve the shortcomings of the old and offer modern features.

The art department will have approximately 56,000 more square feet, the music department will have approximately 48,000 more square feet and the theater department will hold approximately 31,000 more square feet, Strode said.

State-of-the-art computer labs and studios will also be added to each department.