Emerson College is getting a Hollywood makeover, building a Sunset Boulevard campus to replace the school’s smaller, rented space in Burbank.

And it’s no ordinary upgrade for the communications school, which has its main campus in Boston. Designed by world-renowned architect Thom Payne, the $110 million satellite campus will be on one of Hollywood’s main thoroughfares, reflecting the school’s ambitions to become more prominent in entertainment circles and improve industry connections for students.

“We’re a small East Coast school,” said Kerri McManus, who runs Emerson’s internship program in Los Angeles. “There are some folks who don’t know the Emerson name. Having the building in place will bring greater visibility.”

The project, which has been under construction since December, officially broke ground last week and is scheduled to be completed by the end of next year. Classes at the new campus are scheduled to start in spring 2014.

The private four-year college and graduate school enrolls about 4,300 students studying everything from the performing arts to journalism to post production. About 100 study and take internships in Los Angeles each semester, where they focus on entertainment industry-related coursework such as sound design, and film and television script writing.

When the development is complete, the campus will house about 220 students, roughly doubling the number of Emerson students in Los Angeles.

The program has operated out of Burbank for 25 years, and the school has about 3,200 local alumni, including big names such as “Tonight Show” host Jay Leno and Viacom Entertainment Group president Doug Herzog.

Emerson President Lee Pelton said he believes the new campus should encourage alumni to support the school both financially and by participating in its internships and other programs.

“If we’re here, it will be easier,” said Pelton.

In residence

Last week’s groundbreaking ceremony, attended by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, was the culmination of a half-decade of work.

The school spent a couple of years looking for a Hollywood location before buying a portion of the historic KTLA television studios lot in 2008 at Sunset Boulevard and Gordon Street.

Then the school ran into legal trouble when a neighbor, EastWest Studios, filed a lawsuit in 2010 citing construction noise concerns. The suit was dismissed last year, clearing the way for the start of construction.

Many of the students who have attended the Burbank satellite facility study disciplines that include animation, cinematography and other film-related programs. Pelton said the school would like to expand its program offerings when the Hollywood campus is finished, including perhaps a comedy curriculum. He’s also looking at offering certificate programs for mid-career business people that can be completed in about six weeks.

The campus will feature a new take on traditional residential colleges, in which an “artist in residence” – a professional in a particular field – might live in the dorms to mentor students. The campus will have four faculty and staff apartments.

“If there’s a play in production that has a six-week run, someone from that production would spend time living with the students,” Pelton explained.

Not yet decided is whether Emerson will expand its internship program, which currently places about 100 students each semester into creative, publicity and production positions at studios, production companies and other firms.

Herzog, whose Viacom division operates Comedy Central, Nickelodeon and MTV, said he consistently brings on Emerson interns, since many possess a career-focus rare for college students. “Emerson isn’t a place you go to ‘figure it out,’ ” he said. “You go there with a particular goal in mind.”

Hollywood U

Emerson’s new campus will be near more than a dozen other schools that offer entertainment industry educations, such as the for-profit Los Angeles Film School and Musician’s Institute.

The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce estimates some 4,000 students go to school in the area and has developed a branding campaign for the area, dubbing it “Hollywood U.”

Recent Emerson graduate Patrick Lambert, who spent a summer at the Burbank outpost, said the new campus will doubtlessly lead to a more collegiate feel for students.

“The old center is small and restricted in how much it can offer,” he said. “The new center will become a hub. The opportunities will just blow up.”

The chamber believes attracting students to Hollywood will boost business in the area, as students shop and eat in the neighborhood. It particularly likes that Emerson is offering on-campus housing, since the other schools largely are attended by students who commute.

“With Emerson coming here it brings more attention to Hollywood,” said Marty Shelton, chairman of the chamber’s board.