ABMB Engineers recently held a ribbon cutting and grand opening at its new headquarters in downtown Baton Rouge.

Working closely with architect Robert Coleman and Partners, the Louisiana State Historic Preservation Office, the Downtown Development District and Plan Baton Rouge, ABMB sought to maintain the circa 1888 building's historic elements.

ABMB shielded the handmade exposed bricks, original wood floors and wrought iron columns as it reinforced the structural integrity of the building, installed computer networks, ran new electrical wiring and installed plumbing.

"ABMB wants our projects to have the same enduring quality that we have in this building," said Principal Mike McGaugh.

The new location is just steps away from clients such as the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, the City of Baton Rouge's Department of Public Works and various state agencies.

ABMB Engineers provides civil/site design, traffic engineering, structural design, sewage and water, bridge design and inspection, drainage, highway/roadway design and surveying to a variety of municipal, state, federal and commercial clients.

La. Tech plans biomedical engineering facility

Plans are finished for a new biomedical engineering building at Louisiana Tech University.

The announcement was made during a celebration in honor of President Dan Reneau, who helped found the university's biomedical engineering program in 1972.

The new building, one of the few approved in the recent capital outlay budget, has received approval at $6.3 million. About 22,000 sq. ft. were added to original plans, bringing the total to 52,000 sq. ft. and the price tag to $8.2 million. Grants and gifts are funding the addition.

The new building will sit next to the Institute for Micromanufacturing on the main campus.

Construction is expected to begin during the next academic year.