The only Catholic high school in Lake Charles, Louisiana, has broken ground on a new campus nearly five years after a hurricane irreparably damaged its former home.
The Advocate reports that St. Louis Catholic High School was a complete loss after the storm tore off its roof and left the academic building unsalvageable in August 2020. Since then, classes have been held in modular buildings.
Now, the school is rebuilding and expanding its campus on a new site. The project will cost around $54 million. The Federal Emergency Management Agency is providing $32 million, and a fundraising campaign is under way to provide additional support.
A 47-acre site for the new campus was purchased in 2022. It will enable St. Louis to construct a campus with more amenities than the old facility.
The initial build, which is expected to be completed by spring 2027, will consist of four major buildings: a 70,000-square-foot academic building, a 16,000-square-foot science building and cafeteria, a 22,000-square-foot athletic complex, and a 47,000-square-foot gymnasium.
Principal Kelly DeMolle says the school has never owned its sports fields and was unable to build any because there was no additional land available for purchase near the old site.
The school has around 500 students; DeMolle said the new campus will be built to hold up to 800 students.
Once the first phase is complete and the students move in, the school will pursue a second phase. It will include a chapel, amphitheatre and several athletic fields.
The project was designed by architect Champeaux Evans Hotard and is being built by Trahan Construction.
