Liberty University broke ground on its biggest facilities investment to date -- the new Jerry Falwell Library -- on Wednesday, March 7, 2012, just west of the DeMoss Learning Center. Opening the ceremony with prayer, co-founder Dr. Elmer Towns welcomed the Falwell family, distinguished civic leaders and guests, and thousands of students, faculty and staff.

Wielding golden shovels, Chancellor Jerry Falwell, Jr., members of the Falwell family, and university trustees and executives broke ground to begin construction on what is to become the heart of the university.

Following the actual groundbreaking, Jerry Falwell, Jr. traded his gold shovel for the driver's seat of an excavator. To the delight of Liberty students, Chancellor Falwell took aim at the old Schilling Center. The crowd cheered as he broke off a corner of the old building to make way for the new library honoring his father's legacy of academic excellence and Christian commitment of Training Champions for Christ.