CRETE, NE — A university in southeast Nebraska will soon have a new space for its leader to live.

Wednesday, Doane broke ground on a new president's residence.

The school says there will also be an event space included on the grounds.

"This is going to be a community-type building with a lot of different activities both for Doane and the City of Crete that we can collaborate to have events right here on the school property," Doane President Dr. Roger Hughes said. 

Hughes was hired about one year ago and inaugurated in April. He says discussion for the building goes back to before his tenure.

Also a Doane alum, he says it'll be exciting to be living on campus once again.

"It's gets you closer to the students," Hughes said. "What I envision this house becoming is a place where we can have the whole football team over or all the seniors over before they graduate. Then we can increase the bonds and ties to the Doane community and our alumni."

It's Doane's second groundbreaking in as many weeks as the university marks its 150th anniversary. The school broke ground on a new residence hall Monday last week.

School officials say the new president's home has an estimated completion date of Spring 2023.