For the first time in 45 years, Boston College will soon open a new academic facility on the main part of its Chestnut Hill campus.

The $78 million Stokes Hall is the school’s most expensive educational building. Shown here is the lounge.

The building represents a bet in the future of bricks-and-mortar higher education.

The building’s namesake, Patrick T. Stokes, who has donated $22 million toward the facility, earned a degree in math from BC in 1964.

The honors library at Stokes Hall. The first classes will be held in the building when students return from winter break.

One of the smaller classrooms. The college broke ground on the 183,000-square-foot building two years ago.

The building features 36 new classrooms, common areas, an honors library, outdoor plaza, and amphitheater.

“The biggest compliment we get from everyone is it looks like it’s always been there,” said Patrick Keating, executive vice president of BC.