BATON ROUGE — Southern University is set to offer students a new way to learn, with plans underway for a $1.7 million outdoor classroom and amphitheater to be built on campus.
University administrators, alongside representatives from a construction company, officially broke ground on the project Thursday morning, Sept. 26, in a ceremony attended by Southern University officials and community leaders, including Mayor Sharon Weston Broome.
“Thanks to funding from the U.S. Department of Education’s Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) grant, this project is set to make a lasting impact on campus life for years to come,” Mayor Sharon Weston Broome said in a post.
The outdoor classroom and amphitheater, located near the banks of the Mississippi River, will provide a safe, open-air learning environment. The design of the facility’s roof is inspired by the historic campus bell displayed in the John B. Cade Library, offering both a nod to Southern University’s rich history and a modern space for education.
The project is funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Education’s Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF). Southern University officials emphasized that the project will benefit students by creating an innovative space for learning, especially in light of increased demand for safe, outdoor gathering spaces following the COVID-19 pandemic.
Construction is expected to take a year, with completion projected for 2025. Once finished, the outdoor facility will offer students a unique setting to engage with their studies, while also being a new venue for events and gatherings on campus.
Southern University continues to invest in campus infrastructure, aiming to offer its students a dynamic and enriching educational experience.
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