Shovels will hit the dirt Saturday when NIU breaks ground on its new $6.2-million alumni and visitors center, set to open next year.

Plans for the project were announced last year during Homecoming, when NIU launched its campaign to raise money for the center.

“This has been a high priority of the university and they saw it as a great need and benefit to the entire university community,” said Mallory Simpson, president of the NIU Foundation, which handles all donations for the alumni center.

The project got a much-needed boost from Dennis and Stacey Barsema, who contributed $2.5 million to get the project started.

“It was their gift that made the project a reality,” said Mike Malone, vice president of university development and advancement for NIU.

When the Barsemas made the donation, others joined them by giving donations so that the project could be announced and started, Malone said.

The alumni center has raised about 87 percent of the money needed to complete the project.

“The gift response has been great, but we have more money to raise for the project,” Simpson said.

Even though the goal has yet to be met, Malone is optimistic about the donations.

Individuals have been literally walking into the office and making donations to the campaign, he said.

The center will feature a ballroom with table seating for 240, a board room that will be used by university and community organizations and a faculty library where faculty can gather for seminars.

“It’s going to be a front door to the university for returning alumni, prospective students and the community,” Malone said.

A private ceremony will be held for major donors of the project at noon on Saturday and will be followed by the groundbreaking ceremony at 1:45 p.m at the old alumni house off North Annie Glidden Road.