David Greene, Colby College president, left center, and Michael Gordon, Class of 66, right center, turns the ceremonial dirt Saturday during the groundbreaking ceremony for the future Gordon Center for Creative and Performing Arts at Colby College in Waterville.

Michael Gordon, second from right, arrives to the groundbreaking ceremony Saturday for the future Gordon Center for Creative and Performing Arts at Colby College in Waterville.

An architectural rendering of the future Gordon Center for Creative and Performing Arts sits on an easel at the construction site during a groundbreaking ceremony Saturday at Colby College in Waterville.

People gather around the site of the future Gordon Center for Creative and Performing Arts at Colby College during a groundbreaking ceremony Saturday in Waterville.

An architectural rendering provided by Colby College shows the inside of a new Gordon Center for Creative and Performing Arts, with views showing the sandbox studio and arts incubator areas.

Hard hats are lined up on the gravel Saturday ahead of the groundbreaking ceremony for the future Gordon Center for Creative and Performing Arts at Colby College in Waterville.

An architectural rendering provided by Colby College shows the vision for a new Gordon Center for Creative and Performing Arts, as seen from across Mayflower Hill Drive on the Waterville campus.

People gather around the site of the future Gordon Center for Creative and Performing Arts at Colby College during a groundbreaking ceremony Saturday in Waterville.

An architectural rendering provided by Colby College shows the planned performance hall inside a new Gordon Center for Creative and Performing Arts at the Waterville campus.

Michael Gordon, center, sits Saturday during the groundbreaking ceremony for the future Gordon Center for Creative and Performing Arts at Colby College in Waterville.

An architectural rendering provided by Colby College shows the vision for a new Gordon Center for Creative and Performing Arts, as seen from Foss and Woodman Halls at the Waterville campus.

David Greene, Colby College president, left center, and Michael Gordon, Class of 66, right center, turns the ceremonial dirt Saturday during the groundbreaking ceremony for the future Gordon Center for Creative and Performing Arts at Colby College in Waterville.

Michael Gordon, right center, sits with David Greene, Colby College president, at the groundbreaking ceremony Saturday for the college's future Gordon Center for Creative and Performing Arts in Waterville.

An architectural rendering of the future Gordon Center for Creative and Performing Arts sits on an easel at the construction site Saturday during a groundbreaking ceremony at Colby College in Waterville.