Grand Canyon University (GCU) announced it will add a new campus in a new and fast growing area of the city of Mesa, the East Valley Tribune reported.

GCU president Brian Mueller announced at a press conference Tuesday the school, based in Phoenix, Ariz., will purchase 100 acres with the possibility of 60 more. The new campus will be able to hold 10,000 students and construction is set to start in 2014, with classes scheduled to begin in 2015.

The new campus is not expected to be finished for about five years and Mueller was also not sure how long before it would incorporate dormitories. The new campus will also lack sports facilities, but will host club and intramural teams.

The new Eastmark campus will offer the same courses as the main campus and will serve as a commuter campus for East Valley residents.

"More and more students are deciding they're fine living at home," Mueller said.

Scott Somers, Mesa City Council member, compared the growing college town to Boston and Boulder, Colo. because of their attractiveness to businesses. The new campus will be the sixth college in the city.

"These are not storefront campuses, these are not fly-by-night," Mesa mayor Scott Smith said. "These, like Grand Canyon University, are legacies."

Charley Freericks, president of DMB Associates, a development company, said in a previous interview with the Tribune new campus fits the original plan for the area.

"If you looked at the very early planning in our 2006, 2007 zoning work we had a college district," Freericks said. "The idea is we would make a real difference for Eastmark and the region if we could have a college. Education's always been part of our plan. It is very important."

Mueller said it was DMB's vision for the city of Mesa, combined with its potential for growth that caused him to want to invest in property in that area.

"There's a little bit of a risk, but we've become partners with a very, very successful organization," he said. "They're potentially looking at thousands of students on campus and a couple thousand workers and teachers on campus."