LSU College of Engineering Exceeds $100M Funding Goal, Gears Up for $350KSF Overhaul

By Eliza Theiss, Associate Editor

Gov. Bobby Jindal with LSU College of Engineering students

The Louisiana State University (LSU) College of Engineering has announced the successful completion of the Breaking New Ground capital campaign, wrapping up three months ahead of schedule and 5 percent above its targeted funding goal, with $52.5 million raised from 450 individual and corporate donors. The raised capital will be put towards covering LSU’s share of a $100 million public-private partnership set to renovate the College of Engineering’s Patrick F. Taylor Hall, as well as expand teaching facilities with a brand new chemical engineering building, as previously reported by Commercial Property Executive.

The project is a result of a booming demand for engineering jobs in Louisiana. According to LSU’s data, engineering and construction management jobs in Louisiana are expected to grow by 40 percent between 2010 and 2020, numbers that are reflected in LSU’s College of Engineering enrollment, which grew by 41 percent between 2008 and 2012. Upon completion, 1,150 engineers, construction managers and computer scientists are expected to graduate from the school annually.

Patrick F. Taylor Hall rendering

Construction will kick off in the fall off of 2014 with groundbreaking on the new chemical engineering building, which is expected to complete in June 2016. The adjacent Patrick F. Taylor Hall will start renovation and expansion in July 2015 and complete by October 2017. The project will affect 350,000 square feet of academic space, 90,000 square feet of which is represented by newly constructed teaching and research space. Global architecture and design firm Perkins + Will and Baton Rouge-based Coleman Partners Architects LLC have been selected to overhaul the engineering campus, which will boast an academic support center, dedicated capstone project space and graduate student space and expanded, up-to-date laboratory space, among others.

Twenty-two private companies, such as Dow, Entergy and BASF contributed to the fundraising – 20 of them donating over the $1 million mark. Some of the most notable donations included a $5 million pledge from Turner industries and a $15 million donation from Phyllis Taylor. The state’s $50 million contribution will be provided from state capital outlay funds. As announced by Gov. Bobby Jindal in October 2012, the state will also match all private donations dollar for dollar above the $50 million mark.

Images courtesy of LSU College of Engineering