LSU Health Shreveport Plans Research Expansion Project

LSU Health Shreveport (LSUHS) is planning to begin construction in January of 2027 on the Research Expansion Project. Designed by Flad Architects in association with Prevot Design and Sutton Beebe Babin Architects, the strategic development will create a new hub for biomedical discovery through the adaptive reuse of an existing 181,000-sf mall. The first $90 million phase of renovation will transform 92,500 sf of space to house the Cancer and Cardiovascular Research Facility. Featuring an integrated vivarium, the center will include leading-edge laboratories for studies in cell metabolism, protein modification, and more, as well as offices for investigators and advanced instrumentation suites. The remainder of the complex will undergo general improvements in preparation for the next phase.

Located less than a mile from the institution's main campus, the project addresses a crucial need for further research capacity to accommodate faculty who have been awarded R01 grant funding from the National Institutes of Health. The former Sears building offers wide-open volumes that can easily adapt to evolving programs, delivering a flexible and cost-effective solution that enables future changes in size and scope. Additionally, the choice to renovate an existing structure will allow for an expedited construction timeline. EMA Engineering & Consulting is acting as MEP/FP engineer and Aillet, Fenner, Jolly, & McClelland is serving as civil engineer. Completion is expected in September of 2028.