On Thursday, February 13, 2025, the City of Lake Charles broke ground on a new Public Works campus located at 4200 Broad Street. This is a new location for the campus. The location of the current campus is an antiquated design and lies under the flight pattern of Chennault International Airport, which hinders Chennault’s ability to grow.
 
This groundbreaking represents the start of construction on phase one of a two phase project. Phase One is funded through City and State Capital Outlay funds.
 
The first phase will include site work and the construction of a new Public Works Administration Office. The long-standing Administration building was damaged beyond repair by Hurricane Laura. The structure includes several resiliency features such as a raised finished floor elevation to mitigate flood risk and a higher wind rating to reduce damage from future storms.
 
“The start of construction on this new Public Works Campus is a major step forward towards complete storm recovery for the City of Lake Charles,” said Mayor Nic Hunter. “A relocated Public Works Campus has been needed for decades, and we’re finally honoring that promise. This gives us the opportunity to build a more modern and resilient complex and will set this City up for growth and quality service to our citizens for the next hundred years. The move will also open up new opportunities for economic development for Chennault International Airport.”
 
Brossett Architect, LLC is the project architect and Russell J. Stutes Construction is the contractor. Completion of phase one is expected in March 2026.
 
Phase Two, currently in the design review process, will include the relocation of the remaining City Public Works services from their current location. Phase Two is funded through City, State Capital Outlay, and FEMA funds.
 
“Today is a day that is decades in the making for all of our Public Works employees,” added Stacy Dowden, City of Lake Charles Director of Public Works. “With this more resilient facility, we are investing in the tools, technology, and resources to ensure that our Public Works team can continue to provide exceptional service to our community no matter what challenges may lie ahead.”
 
For more information or the latest City of Lake Charles news, visit www.cityoflakecharles.com or follow www.facebook.com/LakeCharlesLouisiana and @lccityhall on Instagram.