The renovations for the Cotillion Ballroom began during the summer semester and the Beauregard Hall renovations will begin sometime in the fall, Michael Davis, assistant vice president for administration, said. Beauregard will be undergoing renovations for 18 months to two years and should be complete by the fall 2010 semester, Davis said.

The cost to renovate Beauregard Hall is $14.8 million provided by state funds and was originally requested in 1983, Davis said.

“The project is possible through the efforts of (state) Rep. Warren Triche,” Davis said.

Beauregard Hall will be gutted out and receive new labs and stadium style sitting for lecture classes, Davis said. The new interior will consist of rebuilt mechanical systems, electric service upgrades, energy efficient windows and fire alarm upgrades.

The staircase on the quad side will be removed along with the pond, Davis said. The building will be upgraded with handicap ramps and new elevators.

“The building will be brought up to current ADA accessibility codes,” Davis said.

There will be no classes scheduled for Beauregard Hall in the fall, spring and the fall of 2009, Larry Howell, associate provost, said. With the help of the departments, classes have been reassigned to other buildings.

Davis said the scheduling of classes has shifted some classes to evening classes to accommodate the renovations.

“The biggest part of the project is to satisfy academic needs,” he said.

Fresh paint to the walls and entranceway to the Plantation Suite, along with new lighting and refurbished restrooms, is brightening up the heavily-used Cotillion Ballroom, Davis said.

“The wear and tear of the building was beginning to show,” he said.

During the fall, new furniture and paintings will be added to the Cotillion Ballroom, Francisco Chacon, student union director said.

“We will be doing cosmetic updates throughout the fall with updates to the restrooms,” Chacon said.

The Cotillion Ballroom renovations are possible through auxiliary funds and will cost $93,678.39, Davis said.

Nicholls is also seeking funds for future projects, new Culinary Arts and Information Technology buildings, Davis said.