After tearing down the old McFeeds building last week, Vashon Allied Arts has begun construction of its new performing arts center, which is now expected to cost nearly $20 million.

As Sellen Construction, the general contractor for the project, set up on the site on Monday, VAA staff were finishing alerting neighbors, finalizing logistics around parking and preparing for the noise and disruptions that will come during the next 12 months of construction.

Still, Executive Director Molly Reed said last week that she and other VAA staff were “delirious with joy” that construction was finally starting.

VAA began planning for its 20,000-square-foot arts center several years ago and originally planned to break ground last November. However, the building boom in Seattle resulted in higher costs for subcontractors, and the $800,0000 VAA had added to its budget wasn’t enough to cover the additional costs. Over the last several months, VAA and Sellen worked to reduce costs by using value engineering and rebidding some parts of the project.

The final total for the project, Reed said, is $19.7 million, including contingencies. When VAA unveiled designs for the center in 2011, it anticipated it would cost $16.5 million.

Reed said she’s not discouraged by the escalating costs. Islanders have continued to give large donations, and VAA has now raised $18.5 million. A loan will cover the difference and will also provide cash flow until some of the pledges are fulfilled. Reed said VAA staff are confident that the final $1.2 million will come in through donations and grants.

“The board would not have approved it moving forward if we didn’t feel we could do it,” she said.

During construction, business and events will carry on at the Blue Heron. However, parking will be a challenge, Reed noted, as construction will block most of the existing parking. The organization is working to designate spots for ADA-accessible parking, as well as an area for parents to drop off children for classes. VAA staff will park by the Seattle Distilling Company, but for concerts and events, most attendees will have to park on the road, which Reed said could be “dicey and inconvenient.”

Some of VAA’s daytime programs and summer camps will take place elsewhere due to daytime construction noise. But non-weekday events will still be held at the Blue Heron.

“We’re trying to move as much as possible,” Reed said, “but there will be weekend and evening events here.”

VAA hopes to complete the building in April of 2016.