Huey Long Field House Renovations

Look familiar?

That's LSU's Huey Long Field House pool, from an angle similar to the one shown on the Abandoned Baton Rouge book cover, except it's sporting one extreme makeover. I was fortunate to recently meet with the Senior Director of Development, who updated me on the plans. The entire field house will get much needed renovations, including the former pool that we'll see here transformed into a recreational and educational green space. These are the official renderings of the planned renovations that are set to begin as early as May 2020. 

There will be an outdoor classroom at the extra-long end of the former pool (shown above).

Earlier plans called for retaining one swimming lane filled with water as a tribute to the structure's former purpose, but it looks like that's no longer in the works. However, the designers (RHH Architects, Tipton Associates, and Gensler) kept indications of the former swimming lanes. 

Here's what the pool looked like a decade ago, in 2009, and you can see 2018 photos in my book. 

A website is forthcoming with more details about this massive undertaking, and I'll link it here once it's ready. 

 

Comments

[Jackie]

Amazing renovations

[Distant Lover]

Wow it looks so good!

[John]

Do you know if there is any more information about this project? Thank you!

[Wayne Miller]

Reply to John (above). I have full information and willing to share with you and/or anyone interested. I can be reached at [email protected] or 225-328-2954

[Lolah G.]

Gosh, I remember swimming at the Huey Long Fieldhouse in the mid 60s when my mom worked at LSU. The wire locker baskets with keyed locks to hold your belongings. It was a neat building! Years later, in the mid 70s as an undergraduate, my photography class had our photo developing lab in one of the top floor areas. And no fans or AC in the place. It would get pretty stuffy up there. And yes, there were a number of buildings following into disrepair at that time. The French House, the Panhellenic Building, Old Foster Hall (the cafeteria when my dad went there in the postwar 50s!) Allen Hall---but keep the WPA wall paintings intact there!

[Dawn Meyer Wilson Muscarello]

I danced for three years in the late 1960's in the beautiful wooden floored Dance Studio upstairs from the pool area. So many wonderful memories from there and student productions that were performed in the Union Colonnade.