Project
Student Services
About the Project
Improving the campus experience for students on the Baton Rouge campus is a critical priority of the campaign. Student Services buildings — Libraries, Student Unions, and Dining Halls — play an outsized role in student recruitment and retention, and Southern University’s existing facilities need upgrades to remain competitive with peer institutions.
Degree Programs
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The renovated Student Union will be the heartbeat of campus life — a gathering place for current students and a powerful recruitment tool for prospective ones. In the competitive environment for the best and brightest students, the quality of student amenities is critical in family decision-making. A modernized Union with expanded event capacity, enhanced dining, and dedicated student spaces will directly support academic success and community life at Southern University.
The renovated Student Union:
- Will renovate the existing Smith-Brown Memorial Student Union with a new 9,700 sf second-floor addition to serve both students and staff.
- Will be the home for the University Bookstore, retail and dining spaces, Student Services offices, and indoor and outdoor gathering spaces connecting to Lake Kernan.
- Will include expanded ballroom space (8,000 sf to 11,000 sf), new event and meeting spaces, added office suites with conference rooms, a relocated gameroom and computer lab, and new independent-entry spaces for the barbershop and esports room.
| Number of Stories | 2 |
| Building Height | 36’ |
| Existing Student Union Renovation | 61,000 sf |
| Existing Ballroom | 8,000 sf |
| Ballroom Expansion | 3,000 sf |
| Second Floor Addition | 9,700 sf |
| Entry Plaza Canopy | 14,000 sf |
| Cade Library Renovation | 136,600 sf |
| Mayberry Dining Hall Renovation | 28,600 sf |
Cost Estimate
| IMPROVEMENT | COST | SECURED | NEEDED | NOTES |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry Plaza Canopy | $1,000,000 | |||
| Building Addition Cost | $4,800,000 | |||
| Interior Renovation | $6,100,000 | |||
| Ballroom Extension | $1,000,000 | |||
| Cade Library Renovation | $8,000,000 | |||
| Mayberry Renovation | $5,700,000 | |||
| Student Success Center Renovation | $1,300,000 | $1,300,000 | ||
| Soft Cost | $2,540,000 | |||
| TOTAL CONSTRUCTION COSTS | $30,190,000 | $1,300,000 | $0 | |
| Endowment Programming | $5,200,000 | $87,343 | $5,112,657 | |
| TOTAL PROJECT COST | $35,390,000 | $1,387,343 | $34,002,657 |
“Student success is shaped by the total campus experience, where students study, connect, engage, and grow each day. The transformation of the Smith-Brown Memorial Student Union, John B. Cade Library, Mayberry Dining Hall, alongside a reimagined Center for Student Success supports spaces reflective of a deliberate commitment to creating an environment where students feel supported and equipped to succeed. These spaces are not simply buildings; they are critical touchpoints that influence belonging, engagement, and academic achievement. By investing in modern, welcoming, and functional facilities, we are strengthening the foundation for enrollment, retention, progression, completion, and workforce placement. This work is an investment in the future of every Jaguar, as it ensures that every student at Southern University and A&M College has access to the resources, community, and experiences needed to thrive, from enrollment through graduation and into a meaningful, rewarding career.”
LURIA YOUNG
“Giving back to Southern provides a foundation for successful student programming and faculty research initiatives. The University’s top-tier nursing program is preparing me to reach my career goal to specialize in neonatal care. My university provides the education and experience that I need to achieve this goal and much more.”
LAURYN WATT
- Classification: Junior
- Major: Nursing
- Hometown: Houma, Louisiana
- SU Top JAG