The company contracted to renovate the University’s primary science building will begin work on the facility next week. The renovations to Beauregard Hall will cost approximately $12.5 million.
Mike Davis, assistant vice president for administration, said contractor The Lemoine Company, LLC. of Lafayette began moving in its equipment for the project earlier this week.
“Construction is expected to start Monday,” Davis said.
The contractor is expected to complete the renovations in late March 2010. The modifications to Beauregard Hall will make the building more compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
“The elevator will be brought to ADA compliance,” Davis said.
In addition, three ADA compliant ramps will be added to the building. There will be two ramps on the Madewood Drive side of Beauregard Hall and one ramp on the Quad side of the building.
The exterior stairways on the Quad side of the building will be removed.
Beauregard Hall will also become more energy efficient. The renovation includes plans to install energy efficient windows.
Insurance money from Hurricane Gustav will fund a new roof for the building. The current roof was damaged during the previous hurricane season.
Asbestos inside Beauregard Hall was removed from the building last year. The asbestos removal was funded through the state asbestos abatement fund.
The University received $14.8 million from the state to renovate Beauregard Hall. The state appropriated more money than the cost of the building to cover the fees charged to redesign the building.
Davis said former state Rep. Warren Triche helped make the funding for the building possible.
Davis said the interior of the building is modified for a more appropriate use of the building space, which includes fewer rooms. The new design will increase the building’s level of efficiency.
“It was a poor utilization of space,” Davis said. “The building was highly energy inefficient.”
The renovated building will have science laboratories, faculty offices and at least two classrooms. Beauregard Hall is the primary science building on campus, but the University will continue to have science laboratories in other buildings.
Beauregard Hall was reaching a point where the building no longer served the University’s needs. Davis said the electrical system was maxed out and could not support any additional computers or electronic equipment.
University administrators wanted to renovate Beauregard Hall for more than 20 years, but were unable to secure state funding until last year.
“We’ve been requesting funds from the state since 1983,” Davis said.
The University prepared to scale back renovations because of rising construction costs, but the economic downturn allowed the University to proceed at a cost that was lower than expected.
“We will get the building the way it was originally designed,” Davis said. “It will be a state of the art facility.”
The University hopes to begin using the building in summer 2010, but expects to move into the renovated building no later than the start of fall 2010.
Workers prepare Beauregard Hall for renovations which begin next week. The renovations will cost approximately $12.5 million and will be funded through a state appropriation. Classes will resume in the building by fall 2010. (Ashley Falterman)
