Progress in Motion: Expanding Access at OLOL RMC
Lafayette is booming, and Our Lady of Lourdes Regional Medical Center (OLOL RMC) is expanding right alongside it. At Kent Design Build, we’re transforming space—not just building it—to meet Acadiana’s rising demand for emergency care, surgery, and clinical services.
Our Lady of Lourdes Regional Medical Center, the focus of a multi-phase expansion to enhance emergency, surgical, and clinical services.
A Reimagining of Critical Space
What was once an active ambulance drive deck—bustling with as many as seven emergency vehicles even amid ongoing work—has now been repurposed into meaningful clinical area. Adding complexity? It sat directly above essential electrical infrastructure that could not be taken offline.
“In the early design, we planned to cut into the deck to fit structural supports,” explained John Martarona, Kent’s General Superintendent. “But design collaboration led us to a smarter solution: placing structural stud members above the existing deck.”
This rethink reduced risk, streamlined costs, and kept emergency access fully operational. Soon, staff and patients will benefit from an emergency department that flows better, handles more, and feels safer.
Room to Care, Designed to Serve
When the Emergency Department expansion opens:
There will be 11 new exam rooms
Fresh nursing stations
Clean and nourishment areas thoughtfully placed to streamline care without interrupting workflow.
Together, these enhancements will speed up triage, ease movement through the space, and enhance the comfort of care for everyone involved.
Quality in Every Detail
Attention to detail extends beyond structure to the finishes. We’ve partnered with CbP Millworks of Harahan to deliver commercial casework that blends lasting durability with refined design—solid-surface countertops and functional workstations built with care and built to last. Ben Bigler from CbP recently joined the site to ensure installation was spot-on. Martarona noted,
“CbP has been a real asset. Their attention to detail and ability to adapt on-site helps us deliver a cleaner, more efficient build.”
Expanding Surgical Capacity and Support Systems
Construction isn’t just happening in the ED:
A new operating room—sophisticated and adaptable—is being built adjacent to the existing suite to boost surgical volume and flexibility.
Nearby, we’ve transformed a formerly unused rooftop void into equipment storage, streamlining surgical workflows and freeing capacity elsewhere.
With the sixth-floor renovation now complete, we’re pressing forward on all fronts. The entire expansion remains on schedule, set to wrap up in August 2025.
As Lafayette evolves, so does its healthcare infrastructure. This isn’t just an expansion—it’s an investment in quicker, safer, future-ready care. Kent Design Build is proud to help create a space that answers today’s needs and anticipates tomorrow’s.