August 13, 2026
BATON ROUGE – Baton Rouge Community College is hosting a ribbon cutting to officially open the Capital City Construction Lab on Aug. 21 at 11 am at the Mid City Campus located at 201 Community College Dr., Baton Rouge, LA 70806.
The Capital City Construction Lab was funded in part by an $850,000 Gable Grant from the Lowe’s Foundation.
The lab will provide BRCC students with a learning space to gain practical skills in carpentry, electrical, HVAC and plumbing, ensuring BRCC’s commitment to the Lowe’s Foundation evolved commitment to prepare 250,000 people for skilled trades careers by 2035.
In addition to funding the Capital City Construction Lab, the Lowe’s Foundation Gable Grant also established the BRCC Plumbing Program that welcomed its first cohort in January.
The lab is an open-air learning environment designed to replicate real-world construction conditions. It will feature a waterproof canopy, making it usable in most weather conditions, and wide entryways to allow heavy equipment and machinery to move in and out for students to learn on actual job-site equipment.
The lab will be equipped with the latest construction management technology and software, including interactive digital displays to showcase blueprints, simulations and real-time project updates.
Speakers at the ceremony include BRCC Chancellor Dr. Willie E. Smith Sr., Provost and Vice Chancellor for Workforce and Student Development Dr. Sarah Barlow and Lowe’s Foundation Board VP Media & Sports Marketing Gerardo Soto.
They will also be available for one-on-one interviews after the ceremony.
Parking is free and available at the Mid City Campus.