One campus building that was constructed 116 years ago and hasn’t seen a renovation in more than half a century may soon get an upgrade, along with scores of other eyesores on campuses across the state.
Last spring, Sen. Ryan Gatti, R-Bossier City, introduced legislation ordering institutions of higher learning to fix buildings which have needed maintenance improvements for decades before spending funds on new construction.
Gov. John Bel Edwards signed the legislation into law in May.
Prior to the flooding earlier this month, the five most rundown building on campus were: Dalrymple Hall, Howe-Russell West, Francioni Hall, the H.P. Long Field House and the Studio Arts Building, according to the Office of Facility Services. LSU President F. King Alexander said in a broadcast email that the University received minimal damage from flooding.
Those five buildings alone will require roughly $75 million of the University’s capital outlay funds to patch up. Those renovations must be completed before the University can break ground on any new structures.
The Howe-Russell West Geoscience Complex has been servicing geography and geology students since 1938. The University renovated the building in 1981 and 1986, but it still does not meet instructional and research requirements.
According to Facility Services’ 2014-2015 Five-Year Capital Outlay Plan, it would take approximately $24.7 million to renovate the complex.
Francioni Hall has never been renovated, even though it was built in 1936. Facility Services estimated $6.47 million are required to provide modern lab space for the agriculture students who use the building.
Built in 1928, Long Field House houses the College of Sciences and Education and School of Kinesiology. According to Facility Services, 65 percent of the building is unusable and requires approximately $19.8 million in renovation and deferred maintenance repairs.
There are plans for a few small renovations to the Studio Arts Building, such as new window installations, for the first time since it was built in 1924.
Originally intended for engineering students, Facility Services said it will require $16 million to bring the space up to acceptable standards. The repairs would focus on roofing, elevators and air-conditioning.
Dalrymple Hall, built in 1900, hasn’t been renovated since 1956.
Mass communication professor Robert Mann wrote in a blog that he was given a tour of the building’s second floor ecology lab, where there is no clean drinking water, terrible insulation and paint chips that constantly shower research students.
Facility Services said it doesn’t have an exact estimate for the amount need to modernize the building’s labs, but based on the other four buildings’ price tags it could be in excess of $20 million.

Gallery • 4 Photos

Rundown Buildings 2.JPG