LSU Health Shreveport’s Big Research Expansion Could Transform Mall St. Vincent — and Northwest Louisiana
Something pretty remarkable is brewing in Shreveport — and it involves science, innovation, and the reinvention of a familiar local landmark.
LSU Health Shreveport, with support from the LSU Health Sciences Foundation, is launching a major research expansion project that will convert the former Sears building at Mall St. Vincent into a modern medical research hub. The effort aims to dramatically increase the region’s capacity for cutting-edge biomedical research while creating jobs and strengthening Northwest Louisiana’s economy.
In other words: that big empty department store could soon help power life-saving discoveries.
From Retail Landmark to Research Engine
For decades, the Sears building at Mall St. Vincent was a retail anchor for Shreveport shoppers. Now, it’s poised to become something entirely different — a state-of-the-art research facility focused on cancer and cardiovascular disease.
Rather than building an entirely new research complex, LSU Health Shreveport is taking an innovative approach by repurposing the existing structure into flexible, modern laboratory space. The building’s large open interior makes it ideal for conversion into collaborative research labs, offices, and educational spaces.
The location also makes sense strategically:
Less than a mile from the LSU Health Shreveport campus
Visible from the busy I-49 corridor
Plenty of parking and space for future expansion
It’s a smart reuse of a large property while strengthening the city’s medical and research infrastructure.
Why LSU Health Needs the Space
LSU Health Shreveport’s research programs have been growing rapidly in recent years. Grants and funded research projects are expanding, and the institution is actively recruiting top scientists from around the country.
The problem?
The existing research space is nearly full.
Without expansion, it would become harder to recruit and retain world-class researchers or pursue additional grant funding. The new facility will help solve that problem by creating tens of thousands of square feet of modern laboratory space designed for collaborative research and scientific discovery.
The project also aligns with LSU’s broader goal of strengthening its national research profile and moving toward Top-50 research university status.
What It Means for Shreveport
Beyond the scientific benefits, the project could bring significant economic impact to the region.
Projected outcomes include:
600 new jobs created
$75 million in new annual economic activity
$212 million in economic activity during construction
Increased state and local tax revenue
That’s a huge ripple effect for the local economy.
It also adds new life to Mall St. Vincent, which has increasingly become a hub for events, redevelopment, and creative uses of space. Turning a former department store into a medical research facility is exactly the kind of adaptive reuse that cities across the country are pursuing.
A Timeline for the Project
According to the LSU Health Sciences Foundation, the current timeline looks like this:
🧪 Construction begins: January 2027
🏥 Building occupied: September 2028
Once completed, the facility will support expanded research programs tied to LSU Health Shreveport’s existing centers of excellence, including the Feist-Weiller Cancer Center and cardiovascular research programs.
A Community Effort
The LSU Health Sciences Foundation is leading fundraising efforts to support the project and is encouraging community partners and donors to participate in the expansion.
Projects like this often become catalysts for regional transformation — bringing together universities, healthcare systems, philanthropists, and local leaders to build something bigger than any one organization.
And for Shreveport, it’s another signal that healthcare, research, and innovation are becoming a major part of the region’s economic future.
The Bigger Picture for Northwest Louisiana
When you step back and look at the momentum — the new Center for Medical Education, expanding research programs, and now a massive research facility at Mall St. Vincent — LSU Health Shreveport is clearly aiming high.
What used to be a retail landmark could soon be a place where scientists are working on the next breakthroughs in cancer treatment, cardiovascular health, and biomedical science.
Not bad for a building that once sold appliances and blue jeans.
Source: LSU Health Sciences Foundation – Research Expansion Project.