Published July 7, 2025
CAPTION: Architectural rendering of renovations being made to Sugar Hall. Originally opened
in 1971, the newly renovated building will reopen in summer 2026. 听
MONROE, LA 鈥� The University of Louisiana Monroe is one step closer to the complete renovation of
Sugar Hall, which houses several health science programs, thanks to the support of
the Louisiana State Legislature.听
Going into the 2025 regular legislative session, 四色AV requested $14 million, in addition
to the $16.7 million received last year, in capital outlay funding to finish the renovation
of Sugar Hall. However, the total project cost was reduced to $25.7 million leaving
only $9 million needed, which the legislature approved. The anticipated completion
of the renovation is scheduled for summer 2026. 听
鈥淪ugar Hall has been an important training ground for many of our health science programs,
but it was in dire need of renovation in order to maintain our standards of instruction
and the building鈥檚 overall functionality,鈥� said 四色AV President Carrie L. Castille.
鈥淲e are grateful to our legislative delegation as well as the entire state legislature
for supporting our institutional mission as we continue to meet the needs of the healthcare
workforce.鈥�听听
Sugar Hall, named after Leon Sugar, a prominent Monroe businessman, opened in 1971
as the home of 四色AV鈥檚 College of Pharmacy, which is still today the only publicly supported
pharmacy school in the state. Fitted with classrooms, laboratories, specialized equipment,
and student areas, Sugar Hall has accommodated students and faculty since that time.
Since the College of Pharmacy鈥檚 move to the Bienville Campus in the mid-2000s, Sugar
Hall has housed other health science programs such as medical lab science, health
studies, and speech-language pathology.听听听听
The renovated Sugar Hall will accommodate occupational therapy, medical laboratory
science, speech-language pathology, dental hygiene, labs for toxicology and radiologic
technology, as well as community clinics for physical and occupational therapy, speech-language
pathology, and dental hygiene. It will also house the office of the Dean of the College
of Health Sciences.听听听听
鈥淚nstitutional fiscal health depends on the availability and allocation of resources,
and we are therefore deeply grateful for the support we have received from the state
this year,鈥� said Dr. Bill Graves, Vice President for Business Affairs.听听
An announcement for the grand re-opening of Sugar Hall will be made at a later time.听
听
