Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

Northwestern State University Breaks Ground on New Academic Building

  • By Matt Jones
  • 03/16/23

Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, La., recently celebrated a groundbreaking ceremony for a new academic building named after a former university president. Alost Hall will measure in at 73,200 square feet and feature multipurpose classrooms for a wide variety of academic disciplines, according to a university news release. The total cost of the project is $44 million.

“It is incredibly significant for everybody, and for students that are not even on campus yet, students who are not even born yet. They are going to benefit from this investment, so in a very real way, this groundbreaking is a testament to the work that we have all done collectively to invest again in higher education,” said Louisiana Gov. Jon Bel Edwards at the ceremony. “Education is the engine for economic growth and diversification. It is the key to opportunity and prosperity for everybody.”

Amenities in the new facility will include simulation laboratories for nursing and anesthesia programs; a clinic and training area for social work and psychology students; twelve 30-person classrooms; two 40-person classrooms; three 50-person classrooms; and space for 60 offices and an administrative office area, as well as a large conference room and reception area.

“Today, we gather to celebrate the start of a new chapter in the lift of our institution as we begin construction of the state-of-the-art building that will serve as the hub of innovation, collaboration, and learning for generations of students, faculty, and staff to come,” said NSU President Dr. Marcus Jones. “This groundbreaking is a testament to the unwavering commitment of excellence in education, research, and service to our community.”

Local news reports that the new facility will replace John S. Kyser Hall, the largest building on campus, which was built in 1968.

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • school building with glowing circuit board patterns

    AI Is Coming to Schools — But Most School Buildings Still Run on Institutional Memory

    As school districts race to introduce AI into classrooms, administration, and curriculum planning, another conversation is happening behind the scenes: How prepared are school facilities themselves for the operational demands AI will create?

  • Haws Corporation Marks 120th Anniversary

    Haws Corporation, which provides hydration and emergency safety solutions worldwide, recently announced that the company is celebrating its 120th anniversary this year, according to a news release.

  • Tennessee Middle School Completes Health, Life Safety Renovations

    The Giles County Board of Education in Pulaski, Tenn., recently announced that a series of renovation projects has been completed at Bridgeforth Middle School, according to a news release. The district partnered with Wold Architects & Engineers and Brindley Construction to modernize building systems at one of the district’s oldest schools.

  • Virginia Tech Tops Out New College of Engineering Building

    Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Va., recently celebrated the topping out of Mitchell Hall, which will soon stand as the largest College of Engineering building on campus, according to a news release. The university partnered with Skanska on the 285,500-square-foot facility, which has an expected completion date of winter 2028.