BUTLER TWP — The Butler County Community College next week is set to receive a $1 million donation, the largest in college history.

Robert Heaton, a Butler Township developer, is giving the gift to help fund major renovations at the John A. Beck Jr. Library.

“This is a big gift for a university, let alone a community college,” said Susan Changnon, executive director of communications and marketing for BC3.

The $4.7 million project is half-funded by the state.

Changnon said the renovations are designed to make the library the “hub” of the campus and to make it a place where students work together.

“The new direction with libraries is to learning commons. They’re more group-oriented,” Changnon said. “We’re excited about it.”

The library’s windows will be replaced with larger ones, electrical outlets will be added to accommodate students’ needs with laptops and cell phones and more computers will be installed. The library’s entrance will be moving to the center of campus instead of the back. The library also will get a new cafe and outdoor seating.

Construction is expected to begin this year and conclude in 2016. Renaissance 3 Architects of Pittsburgh is doing the renovations.

College officials learned about the donation at the BC3 Foundation’s meeting in June.

The college officially will get the donation Tuesday morning at a ceremony outside the library.