WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A $54 million renovation and expansion of Wichita’s Union Station officially begins Thursday.

A groundbreaking ceremony was scheduled for Thursday afternoon to mark the start of the project. The redevelopment is expected to take about 2½ years.

The building, which opened in 1872, has been vacant since 2007.

The project includes renovating the existing four buildings. The expansion will include two new buildings and a 150,000-square foot expansion on another. Plans call for retail, restaurant and office areas in the area.