Construction on the Armstrong Liberty Center’s new building has been delayed, according to Liberty Center Director Pete Hoffman.

Hoffman said that workers found old fuel tanks buried underneath the site of the new building, located on Memorial Drive in Hinesville. He said precautionary measures were being taken to ensure the safety of the site before construction proceeds.

“We just want to ensure that all the students who will attend the new Liberty Center are as safe as possible,” he said. “Construction is not going to stop; it will just be delayed.”

The new Liberty Center campus was previously scheduled to open for the fall semester of 2015. According to Hoffman, the opening date has now been pushed to January 2016, in time for the spring semester.

Hoffman emphasized that the delay in construction will not change any plans for the building, nor will it hamper any growth in student enrollment.

“We will not be turning away any students,” he said, noting that the Liberty Center will continue to operate from its current location at 740 E. Gen. Stewart Way. He said contingency plans were in place to accommodate any additional students who enroll for upcoming semesters.

According to Hoffman, environmental experts have been called in to assess the situation and ensure the safety of the construction site.

Hoffman also said that city of Hinesville officials had been notified of the situation and are supportive of the precautionary measures being taken by Armstrong.

“I’m glad to see that the city and Armstrong are arm-in-arm on this,” he said.

The Armstrong Liberty Center is a satellite campus of Armstrong State University, which is based in Savannah.