Centenary College of Louisiana on Monday marked the start of the first phase of a multi-million-dollar renovation of Mickle Hall, the college’s historic science building.

The initial phase includes construction of an Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant entrance featuring a new accessibility ramp, as well as demolition work on the building’s first and fourth floors to prepare for broader structural upgrades.

The renovation project received a $10 million federal appropriation announced by Congress in February. The full renovation is expected to cost nearly $30 million.

Mickle Hall currently houses Centenary’s health sciences programs, which the college identified as a significant contributor to student enrollment.

Founded in 1825, Centenary College recently completed its bicentennial year. The institution is a residential liberal arts college affiliated with the United Methodist Church and is the oldest chartered liberal arts college west of the Mississippi River.