Baton Rouge Community College and Our Lady of the Lake Health broke ground on the
new, state-of-the-art Our Lady of the Lake Nursing and Allied Health Building located
on BRCC’S Mid City Campus, 201 Community College Dr. The new facility will bring together
BRCC’s School of Nursing and Division of Allied Health under one roof, and will house
the college’s current programs in Nursing, Sonography, Surgical Technician, Phlebotomy,
Medical Laboratory Technician, and Medical Assistant. Additionally, it will allow
the College to add high-demand programs in Respiratory Care, Physical and Occupational
Therapy, and Athletic Training. 
BRCC and Our Lady of the Lake Health announced a partnership last year with The Lake investing $12 million to help support the construction and development of the $25 million, 92,800 square-foot, four-story facility.
“The groundbreaking of this new state-of-the art building is a testament to our unwavering dedication to providing highly skilled and well-trained nursing and allied health students,” said BRCC Chancellor Dr. Willie E. Smith. “We are grateful to Our Lady of the Lake for their investment in our college, students, and community. This partnership, along with their commitment to BRCC, will have a lasting impact on the lives of our students beyond what we can measure. It will also help fill an immediate need as we contribute significantly to providing quality healthcare professionals in our community.”
“Our Lady of the Lake Health has served our community for nearly 100 years and is proud of our partnership with Baton Rouge Community College,” shared Chuck Spicer, President of Our Lady of the Lake Health. “This program will bring great opportunities benefiting our region and our state.”
The groundbreaking ceremony celebrates the innovation and progress in healthcare education and represents a transformative chapter in BRCC’s legacy and commitment to elevating the standards of nursing education and patient care.
The impressive 92,800 square-foot Nursing Building has been designed to cater to the evolving needs of modern nursing and allied health professionals. The facility will have capacity for 1,200 students, including nearly 500 nursing students. The building will feature state-of-the-art classrooms and laboratories, a simulated hospital, experiential learning space and study zones, and will create a nurturing environment for students to flourish and develop essential skills. Additionally, the building will include a large open gym.
“This partnership with Our Lady of the Lake and BRCC is a perfect match,” said Gov. John Bel Edwards. “Today’s groundbreaking addresses two important areas of our state: community and technical colleges, and health care. I want to thank both BRCC and Our Lady of the Lake for seeing the need and then working together to help fill the shortage of healthcare workers, which is one of our most pressing priorities. Creating a pipeline for quality training of new nurses means that we are continuing to create a healthier Louisiana for everyone but especially among disadvantaged groups seeking to increase economic prospects and build stronger communities.”
Additionally, with a focus on fostering hands-on learning, the new Nursing and Allied Health Building will house cutting-edge simulation equipment that replicate real-life medical scenarios that will empower students to enhance their critical thinking, decision-making abilities, and patient care techniques. By engaging in lifelike simulations, aspiring nurses and allied health professionals will be better prepared to navigate complex healthcare challenges and excel in their future careers.
The Nursing and Allied Health building is the first new classroom on BRCC’s Mid City Campus since 2009. The new building was designed by Chasm Architecture and Mackey Mitchell. Ratcliff Construction Company will serve as the building’s general contractor.
For more information about BRCC’s Nursing and Allied Health division, visit mybrcc.edu.
BRCC_Groundbreaking: Representatives from Baton Rouge Community College and Our Lady of the Lake break ground on the new Nursing and Allied Health Building during a groundbreaking ceremony on the BRCC Mid City Campus on Thursday, Aug. 8, 2023. Pictured (l to r): Curry Allen, Director of Operations, Our Lady of the Lake Physician Group; Chris Haslitt, Architect, Chasm Architecture; Nathaniel Clark, Managing Partner, Chasm Architecture; Corlin LeBlanc, Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration, BRCC; Dr. James E. Craven, President, Physician Group, Our Lady of the Lake; Governor John Bel Edwards; Dr. Willie E. Smith, Chancellor, BRCC; Alterman “Chip” Jackson, Vice Chair, Louisiana Community and Technical College System Board of Supervisors; Tina Schaffer, Vice President of Talent Strategy and Chief DEI Officer, Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System; James Hollins, Board member, Louisiana Community and Technical College System Board of Supervisors; Dr. Michelle Dennis, Dean, Division of Nursing and Allied Health, BRCC; Dr. Pamela Ravare-Jones, Vice Chancellor for Institutional Effectiveness and Strategic Initiatives, BRCC; and Dr. Pilar Blanco Eble, Vice Chancellor for Institutional Advancement, BRCC. BRCC_Rendering: BRCC’s new 92,000-square-foot Nursing and Allied Health building will be constructed on the Mid City Campus and will be named after Our lady of the Lake. The $12 million investment from Our Lady of the Lake will help support the construction and development of the new building. The state-of-the-art facility will be part of the solution to help fill high-demand jobs in the healthcare industry with quality, well-trained medical personnel. The building will have the capacity to serve 1,200 students.