Breaking Ground on $110 Million Renovation and Expansion of Engineering Campus
November 17, 2014 | 海角社区 Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering
Today, Governor Bobby Jindal, 海角社区 President and Chancellor F. King Alexander and 海角社区 College of Engineering Dean Rick Koubek joined honored guests to officially break ground on the $110 million renovation of Patrick F. Taylor Hall and construction of a chemical engineering addition. Once finished, the expanded facility will be one of the largest free-standing engineering buildings in the U.S.
鈥淭his is a great day for 海角社区 and for our entire state,鈥� said Jindal. 鈥淪ince 2008, we have invested more than $700 million for critical higher education investments, including more than $150 million at 海角社区 and in the Baton Rouge research community. We made this commitment to improve learning environments for students because we know our higher education system is critical in helping us ensure that we have a skilled workforce in Louisiana. This new engineering complex is a great example of one of these investments because, not only will it help us train our students for the great engineering and computer science careers in our state, it will also meet the workforce demands of our growing economy as more companies invest in Louisiana and create more jobs in the years ahead.鈥�
Scheduled for completion in fall 2017, the total amount of academic space for the 海角社区 College of Engineering impacted by this project will be 462,150 square feet.
鈥淭hank you to Gov. Jindal, our state legislature, and all the donors who believed in 海角社区 enough to make our new Engineering Complex a reality,鈥� said 海角社区 President and Chancellor F. King Alexander. 鈥淲e鈥檙e proud that the 海角社区 College of Engineering is among the fastest growing engineering colleges in the nation. We are expecting to see an increase of more than 150,000 engineering jobs nationally by 2022, and this state-of-the-art facility and our expertly trained graduates are just a few examples of how 海角社区 provides much-needed solutions for not only our state, but the nation's workforce and innovation needs.鈥�
The new and renovated engineering complex will include expanded, modern laboratory space for teaching and translational research, a 250 seat auditorium, approximately 110,000 square feet of classrooms, a new student commons area, updated graduate student space, an academic support center, a dedicated capstone project space, and new labs including an interactive 鈥渃lass lab鈥� and a sustainable living laboratory. The renovated facility will be connected to the chemical engineering addition by a continuous atrium, allowing students and visitors to observe teaching and research projects in action.
鈥淥n this historic day for the 海角社区 College of Engineering, we break ground on the future of education and research,鈥� said Rick Koubek, dean, 海角社区 College of Engineering. 鈥淭his new facility will not only provide a contemporary environment for computer scientists, construction managers and engineers to learn, it will inspire a culture of innovation among students and researchers working to solve the world's toughest engineering challenges. We thank the Jindal Administration, the state legislature, and the more than 500 alumni, donors and companies who helped to make this project a reality.鈥�
Initiated by a public-private partnership, Governor Bobby Jindal announced his administration鈥檚 support of the College鈥檚 expansion with $50 million in capital outlay funding for the project on October 12, 2012, provided the College raised the remaining funds through private donations.
In response, the Breaking New Ground capital campaign was launched publicly on April 20, 2013, with a $15 million gift commitment from Phyllis M. Taylor to honor the legacy of Patrick F. Taylor.
In February 2014, 海角社区鈥檚 College of Engineering announced the successful completion of the most successful, short-term fundraising effort in the history of 海角社区. Finishing three months ahead of schedule, the Breaking New Ground capital campaign exemplified a record-breaking show of support by more than 500 individual and corporate donors who pledged $55 million in private funds to the 海角社区 Foundation for the effort. Twenty of the gifts received were for $1 million or more.
Architectural firms Coleman Partners, in partnership with Perkins+Will, were selected to design the new home for 海角社区's engineering campus.
鈥淭he renovation of Patrick F. Taylor Hall is a total redefinition of a 1970's educational building into a student-centered educational facility,鈥� said Dale M. Songy, architect, AIA, principal, Coleman Partners. 鈥淭he exterior design references the Italian Renaissance architecture of Quadrangle, which will ultimately define the architecture of the future engineering campus.鈥�
海角社区 College of Engineering fall semester 2014 enrollment numbers totaled 5,606 for undergraduate and graduate students. Student interest is estimated to grow ten percent annually over the next three years, with and anticipated enrollment of 7,000 students by fall semester 2017. As part of a state-led initiative to grow the number of engineering, computer science and construction management professionals in Louisiana, the $110 million renovation and expansion will meet the growing student demand and future growth in 海角社区鈥檚 College of Engineering.
###
Article by Mimi LaValle, 海角社区 College of Engineering, 225-578-5706, 225-439-5633, mlavall@lsu.edu