For the first time in 45 years, Boston College will open a new academic facility on the main part of its Chestnut Hill campus. Stokes Hall is the school’s most expensive educational building ever, representing a $78-million investment in the humanities. Click through the gallery to tour the property.

The hallways at Stoke Hall have built-in benches. The building’s namesake, Patrick T. Stokes, who has donated $22 million toward the facility — earned a degree in math from BC in 1964.

Stokes Hall features 36 new classrooms, a commons, honors library, outdoor plaza and amphitheater, and new Campus Green.

One of the lecture classrooms at Stokes Hall. Professors are moving into the new facility Dec. 12, and the first classes will be held there when students return from winter break.

The honors library at Stokes Hall. The college broke ground on the 183,000-square-foot, L-shaped Stokes Hall two years ago on what was the last substantial undeveloped site in the central part of campus.

The connecting hallway between the two main sections of Stokes Hall. The architect, Tsoi/ Kobus & Associates, designed Stokes Hall to match the English Collegiate Gothic Style of the historic buildings in that part of campus, including the school’s flagship facility Gasson Hall, which turns 100 in 2013.

Overlooking the student lounge and coffee shop at Stokes Hall. The site previously housed BC’s first football field until Alumni Stadium opened in 1957. The space then became popular for student recreation.

Beautiful stonework in the center of Stokes Hall.