BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD) — On Thursday, multiple officials of Southern University and community leaders joined together for a groundbreaking ceremony of a $1.7 million outdoor classroom and amphitheater at the Baton Rouge campus.  “This is only a start of some of the remarkable transformations that will take place on this campus that most importantly will have a significant impact on the experience that students have here,” said Dennis. J. Shields, president of the Southern University System. University officials said funding is coming from the U.S. Department of Education's Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund, money that was placed to the side and will now be able to be used. John Pierre, Southern University chancellor, said the facility will be very unique to the campus.   Baton Rouge General launches new mobile healthcare unit for North Baton Rouge “It represents the shape of the bell that our enslaved ancestors rang every morning to start the day when this was a plantation. And now this is a place and a beacon of hope,” said Pierre.  Pierre is excited for the project. He said students will not be the only ones to benefit from the new facility. “The community can have outdoor activities, that they will be able to enjoy the peacefulness of the river and the view of the Bluff. And this will add to the communiversity feel of Southern University,” he said.  In regards to the timing of completion, Pierre said they hope to finish the project within a year.  Latest News Southern University hosts groundbreaking ceremony for new outdoor classroom, amphitheater Denham Springs woman recalls being saved by boyfriend after being pinned by truck Florida sheriff asks people who didn't evacuate to write contact info on leg LPSO: 2 students accused of making threat against high school in Louisiana arrested What We Learned: LSU football loses key player to injury, Jayden Daniels shines against Bengals