One of Nicholls’ oldest buildings, Beauregard Hall, reopened for classes Tuesday after its recent renovations. The 52,000 square H-shaped building opened in fall 1961 as the fourth building on campus. The cost was $950,000. Nicholls requested renovation funds for Beauregard in 1983. The funds were not granted until 26 years later in December 2008 when the renovations began. The building needed renovations for three reasons: energy inefficiency, poor utilization of space and a “maxed out” electrical system, meaning no more computer systems could be added in the building. The building had to be gutted, and the only things from the original building that still remain are the outer walls and floors.

“The old Beauregard Hall was like a Chevy pickup truck, and now that the building is renovated, the building feels more like a Grand Sierra,” Earl Melacon Jr., marine biology professor, said.

Beauregard is Nicholls’s main science building, and before renovations began, the building was worn out, really out of date, and the computer labs were in bad shape, Davis said.

Jeremy Wessel, organic chemistry professor, said he likes the fact that the renovated building is clean and has brand new instructional technology.

Science classes held in Gouaux Hall and the biology and chemistry labs located in Peltier will relocate to Beauregard. The labs in Peltier will be renovated into classrooms and offices, Davis said.

“We had great team effort between the architects, contractors, faculty and physical plan operations that helped in the building, and we are extremely proud of the building,” Davis said.

The reconstruction cost more than $14 million dollars. “As a result, students have top-rated facilities to further their education,” Davis said.