LSU has officially named its new Art Favre School of Construction within the College of Engineering, alongside the future Performance Contractors Construction & Advanced Manufacturing Building, a project planned for South Stadium Drive directly across from Tiger Stadium. The announcement centers on a transformational gift from Favre, a Baton Rouge construction industry figure and LSU alumnus, that includes an unrestricted endowment for the new school plus a previously announced $15 million leadership gift toward the building itself.
According to LSU, the Louisiana Board of Regents approved the School of Construction earlier this year, clearing the way for Tuesday's naming announcement. As WBRZ reported, the gift behind the new school is an eight-figure philanthropic commitment, and Favre said at the event, “Still a lot left to get this building up, and the state has stepped up to make it happen.”
Favre is no stranger to LSU's construction programs. He graduated from the university's first construction management class in 1972, per LSU's own account, and the company he later founded now lends its name to the planned Performance Contractors Construction & Advanced Manufacturing Building.
New Degrees and a Building Meant to Anchor an Industry
LSU says college leaders have created two new bachelor of science degree programs, one in construction engineering and one in fire and emergency services administration, as part of the broader overhaul tied to the new school. Officials are also exploring undergraduate programs in digital construction and modular manufacturing, and developing plans to hire faculty talent clusters in fields like automation and robotics, digital twins, AI-enabled project delivery, resilient and low-carbon materials, and jobsite tools for construction professionals, the university's announcement states.
The future building itself is billed as a hub for construction, engineering and advanced manufacturing, supported through a public-private partnership. LSU states the project will cover 148,000 square feet, though a separate LSU blog post from March describes the planned facility as 147,000 square feet. Groundbreaking is planned for 2027, with the site set across from Tiger Stadium on South Stadium Drive.
The Money Behind the Project
Dollar figures around the project vary depending on the source. LSU's Tuesday announcement puts the total project cost at $107 million, supported by a $65 million philanthropic fundraising goal and a $42 million investment from the State of Louisiana. The Reveille, LSU's student newspaper, has separately reported an estimated total cost of $117 million for the building.
Fundraising totals also differ by account. LSU's announcement states that donors to the LSU Foundation have contributed more than $52.6 million toward the building, while WBRZ's report on the same day put the figure at more than $52.3 million raised, with the LSU Foundation seeking the remaining $12.4 million from alumni, friends and industry partners. LSU President Wade Rousse, cited by WBRZ, said Louisiana is a construction leader in the South.
Why LSU Is Betting on Construction
LSU's own materials frame the new school against a backdrop of regional demand. The university describes Louisiana's construction gross domestic product as ranking 40% above the national average, and cites projections that the state's construction industry will grow 14.3% by 2030. LSU also points to a Gulf Coast construction backlog estimated between $60 billion and $80 billion, and notes that nearly 70% of LSU construction management graduates stay in Louisiana, often moving directly into full-time roles with state construction firms, according to the LSU College of Engineering.
The university's construction management program has also been picking up national attention. Earlier this year, an LSU team was named national champion at a construction management student competition, beating out 29 other university and college teams from across the country, per the LSU College of Engineering.
