On Time, On Mission: Advancing Access with Ochsner Health in Lafayette

Lafayette is known for its culture, resilience, and strong community ties. Soon, it will also be home to a new kind of healthcare facility—one built to meet the region’s evolving needs with precision, innovation, and a patient-first mindset.

After 15 months of steady progress, the new Ochsner Health outpatient facility is nearly complete. Construction wrapped June 30, with fire marshal approval following on July 1. The final pieces are falling into place: furniture is arriving, systems are going live, and the physical therapy gym is entering its final phase. By mid-August, the space will be ready. Patient care is expected to begin in early September.

Exterior view of the new Ochsner Health outpatient center in Lafayette, transformed through a major renovation of the former Daily Advertiser printing facility.
Photo by Tim San Fillippo

Expanding Care Across Acadiana

More than just a new clinic, this 105,000-square-foot space brings a unique model of orthopedic and rehabilitative care to Acadiana. Once licensed by the Louisiana Department of Health, it will offer advanced, walk-in services that haven’t existed at this scale in the region.

Thanks to precise scheduling and close collaboration, the project remained on track. That timing allowed Ochsner to begin licensing inspections immediately following construction—an essential step toward launching services without delay.

“Everything we aimed for, every target, was met,” said Jason Broussard, Healthcare Operations Manager at Kent Design Build. “This is about giving Ochsner the time they need to license and launch so they can serve Lafayette as soon as possible.”

From Pressroom to Patient-Focused Design

Originally a newspaper printing facility, the building has been completely transformed. The interior was stripped to the bones, rebuilt with modern infrastructure, and redesigned to align with Ochsner’s clinical and architectural standards. Legacy industrial systems were replaced with efficient layouts, comfortable patient spaces, and high-performance mechanicals.

A full physical therapy gym is a central feature—offering streamlined access for patients and supporting Ochsner’s long-term plans for growth in the region.

People Behind the Progress

The build wasn’t without challenges, but the Kent team remained focused and adaptable. Their steady mindset and attention to detail helped keep the project on schedule and aligned with its mission from day one.

“Attitude is everything,” Broussard said. “This team didn’t just rise to the occasion—they showed up every day with professionalism and pride.”

Built for Lafayette—and What Comes Next

This facility represents more than square footage. It’s an investment in access, healing, and community health. Throughout the build, physicians, medical students, and Ochsner leadership toured the site, helping shape its vision and reinforcing its purpose.

What stands today is a reflection of that purpose: a place where innovation meets care, built with precision and intention.

We’re proud to have partnered with Ochsner Health to deliver a space designed for long-term impact. Because at Kent Design Build, progress means delivering care that matters—on time, and built to serve.