President Joe Biden on Thursday said the federal government will grant funds to Arizona to help design and build a new McCain National Library at Arizona State University.

The McCain National Library will honor the life and legacy of the late John McCain, who represented Arizona first as a U.S. representative and then as U.S. senator and a Republican presidential nominee, according to a release.

Joined by members of the McCain family on his Thursday visit to Arizona, Biden called the plans a fitting tribute to his good friend, longtime fellow member of Congress and American statesman, the release stated.

The new 80,000-square-foot National Library will include archives for McCain’s papers and materials “from his decades of high-profile work in Arizona, Washington and around the globe while in office.” 

 A visitors center and an Arizona home for the Washington, D.C.-based McCain Institute are among other elements planned for the site, envisioned as a solutions center and gathering spot to learn more about leadership, democracy and national security, according to the release.

“John McCain is an important symbol of American democracy, and he holds a special place of respect and appreciation in Arizona and with Arizona State University,” ASU President Michael Crow said.

“We will work with others around the country and in the community to take this unique portion of the ASU Tempe campus and create a place that honors his extraordinary life and legacy, serves the principles he devoted his life and career to and carries that legacy forward for future generations to learn from.”

The project will be on a 22.5-acre part of ASU near Mill Avenue and Curry Road, across Tempe Town Lake and north of the university’s Tempe campus.

ASU has owned the site since 1980. Now home to the university’s community services building, the location by Papago Park offers elevated views of the nearby Rio Salado riverbed, Tempe Town Lake, the city of Tempe and the ASU campus.

The university in the coming months will work with the McCain family, Gov. Katie Hobbs and Arizona community leaders to launch design and construction, according to the release.