Illinois Central College has broken ground on a $7.5 million sustainability center in East Peoria.

Reports indicate work began Tuesday for the 26,000-square-foot facility that will house academic programs including sustainability, architecture and construction. The university's president says it will feature renewable energy technologies as well as roof and rain gardens.

A university vice presidents says the state will provide about $2.6 million for the building, and $2 million will come from federal energy conservation bonds. The college will fund the rest.

He says the center's design phase will occur over the next four months, and students and faculty input is welcome. Construction is expected to end in fall 2015.