What the University has in store for construction and improvements 

Since the demolition of Cajun Field in 2023 and the renovations on the west side of the new Cajun Field at Our Lady of Lourdes Stadium, the University of Louisiana at Lafayette has been consistently churning out new construction projects and upgrades to existing facilities and buildings on campus. 

The other major constructions that have been in the works include renovations to Madison Hall and constructions of the new engineering building, health sciences campus and Our Lady of Wisdom Church and Catholic Student Center. These constructions began last semester, lasted the entire summer and are ongoing. 

Looking at the progress of these construction works, according to Scott Hebert, director of facility management, the first phase of the renovations of Madison Hall are close to being done. The aim is to have the entire first floor of the C building done and ready for full occupancy. Currently, there is partial occupancy, with about two or three engineering laboratories being utilized for classes. 

Hebert explained the second phase will be the completion of the second floor of the C building, while the third phase will include the complete renovation of the back building. The completion date of the entire project is set to be around December 2026. 

Highlighting a challenge of the Madison Hall renovations, Hebert said, “You’re trying to renovate the building while you’re still occupying it, so it becomes a really interesting dynamic of […], how to make that work.” 

The other project for the College of Engineering is the construction of a new engineering building. Hebert shared that the groundwork has been laid out, and they hope to begin construction in March 2026. “The building’s lined up. We have the drawings. We know what we’re doing. It’s just a matter of locking in the funding and solidifying a start date,” Hebert said. 

Regarding the new health sciences campus, Hebert shared that it is still “at its beginnings.” Out of the 25 acres of land acquired, they have only begun working on the five acres of land on W. St. Mary Blvd. Currently, the two main buildings that have begun occupancy are James D. Moncus Hall, where nursing students have started attending classes, and the 601 building, which is mainly for faculty. 

Looking at the construction of the new Our Lady of Wisdom Church and Catholic Student Center, the foundation has been completed, making way for the steel framing, which has begun and is anticipated to be completed on Oct. 17, 2025. 

Mary Hernandez, executive director of advancement at Our Lady of Wisdom, shared that a big milestone will take place on Oct. 6, 2025. “That’s the day that, they call it the topping out ceremony, with the last piece of structural steel to be placed,” she said. 

Following the completion of the steel framing, they will begin laying slab on deck, where they will be building the second and third floors. 

Sharing an interesting fact about the bell tower, which will be a key feature of the new church, Hernandez said that its height is comparable to the Statue of Liberty, excluding the pedestal, falling just a few feet shorter. 

This will make for an impressive new addition alongside older buildings on campus, with the Earl K. Long Gymnasium just beside it being built in 1939 and Angelle Hall diagonally across being built in 1965. 

Our Lady of Wisdom is still actively seeking donations for the project. Their goal was to raise $35 million, and they have since raised close to $30 million. Hernandez said, “We’ve been told it’s the most money ever raised for a project in the Diocese of Lafayette so far. So we’re very, you know, blessed by all the support we’ve received.” 

To make a donation, reach out to the ministry or visit the website ragincajuncatholics.org. 

Now, looking at future projects that the University can expect, the new Kinesiology, Hospitality Management and Athletic Administration Complex is in the works. 

Hebert shared that this new building will be located on the east side of the football stadium, and it will be a replacement of the current Cox Communications Athletic Complex. 

Some features of the new complex include hospitality management laboratories, kinesiology laboratories as well as the student athlete dining room, the Training Table. 

This project is slated to start construction in December 2026. When the new complex is done, the current Cox Communications Athletic Complex will be demolished. Hebert mentioned that there have been several maintenance issues with the building. “It’s past its useful life. The building has roof problems, it’s got HVAC problems, there’s asbestos in it. It just, it really needs to come down,” he said. 

According to Hebert, once demolished, the space that the Cox Complex now stands on will potentially open up as a space similar to Champions Square at Caesars Superdome, where it can be used for various events like tailgating. 

The other upcoming project is renovations to DeClouet Hall, which is now permanently closed. Hebert shared that, similar to the Madison Hall renovations, DeClouet Hall will undergo major changes. 

Renovations will begin within the next few weeks, and is slated to last about a year, anticipating to be done before the Fall 2026 semester. 

With regards to potential impacts of this project, Hebert said that the parking spots in front of DeClouet Hall along Hebrard Blvd. could be blocked for construction materials. 

According to Hebert, sidewalks around that area may also be periodically blocked off, primarily the sidewalk that leads from Hebrard Blvd. to Martin Hall. However, they will work to ensure pedestrian access is not impeded. 

The University is striving for change, which is necessary for growth. The Ragin’ Cajun community will need to keep an open mind and be adaptive to changes to the campus in the foreseeable future.