LSU announced plans for a new $107 million Construction & Advanced Manufacturing Building, on the final day of LSU President William F. Tate IV’s statewide bus tour.
The university seeks to raise $75 million in private donations for the project, with $36.3 million already pledged. The state has allocated $32 million in capital outlay funds to help cover the costs.
The project is supported by a $15 million leadership gift from Art Favre, the founder of Performance Contractors and a 1972 graduate of LSU’s first construction management class. In addition to Favre’s contribution, other major donations have come from industry leaders like MMR, Cajun Industries and ISC Constructors, all of which are run by LSU alumni.
The new facility will be located on South Stadium Drive, across from Tiger Stadium, and will house the Bert S. Turner Department of Construction Management, which is currently located in Patrick F. Taylor Hall. The building looks to provide additional space for labs, faculty and students, to aid advanced manufacturing and construction research.
The Construction & Advanced Manufacturing Building will complement the university’s efforts to strengthen its engineering programs, aligning with its Scholarship First Agenda to address Louisiana’s critical needs in education, research and economic development.
It is also intended to support the growth of Louisiana’s construction industry, which is projected to increase by 14.3% by 2030. LSU’s construction management program has a high retention rate, with nearly 70% of its graduates staying in-state to contribute to Louisiana’s construction workforce.