The $14.8 million state-funded renovations to Beauregard Hall are still on schedule and are in the schematic phase where architects are drafting the design to be reviewed by the state. The design is expected to be completed by June 2008 when it will be sent to Facility Planning and Control; a state agency in Baton Rouge; for approval, Mike Davis, assistant vice president of administration, said. The project will then be bided out to chose the contractor.
Though no timetable is set, Davis said construction would not begin before May 2008 and could begin as late as January 2009. As of now, though, Davis said the plan is to use the building for classes this spring semester then to close it for construction to begin. This, of course, could change if construction does not start until after the fall 2008 semester, in which case fall classes would be held in the building. It is expected to be closed for 15-18 months, Davis said.
Built in 1963, Beauregard Hall has had no significant renovations since the early 1970s, Davis said.
“The renovation is extensive. That building is really being gutted,” he said.
Davis said the building is not energy efficient, and the electrical system is maxed out, which means the University cannot add anymore computer labs. The building’s space is also being poorly utilized because the classrooms are large but generally hold small classes.
There are also some accessibility problems with entrances that must be fixed. The University also wants to move many of the labs from Peltier Hall into Beauregard. It was originally planned to move all the labs into Beauregard, but there will not be enough room, Davis said.
The new labs will be state of the art, containing all the latest equipment. The current labs were designed in the 1960s, Davis said.
The exterior of the building will also be renovated, but until the design is completed, Davis said he will not know to what extent.Davis said though they were originally going to tear down the exterior facade because the tiles are not consistent with the rest of the campus, the architects have decided to leave the tiles and work around them.
