Ajax Building Corp. of Fort Myers has broken ground on an $8.5-million Academic Center and Plaza for New College of Florida, the state honors college for the liberal arts and sciences in Sarasota.

Designed by Moule & Polyzoides of Pasadena, Calif., the 35,000-sq-ft, facility will contain classrooms, faculty offices and a courtyard café. The project is scheduled for completion in early 2011. Funding was provided by the state of Florida.