Baton Rouge construction roundup: costs rise, firms expand

Baton Rouge, LA, October 8, 2025

News Summary

Rising material costs and federal tariffs have pushed budgets higher across Baton Rouge-area construction projects, forcing contractors and public owners to rework bids and pursue value-engineering. Family-run and regional builders are combining people-first service with modern tools and safety programs, while a large electrical contractor is rapidly expanding into data centers and semiconductor projects nationwide. Workforce development, internships and tighter contingency planning are common responses to a skilled labor shortage. Long-term road improvements funded by a half-cent sales tax continue delivering staged projects, with several completions and many more under construction.

Baton Rouge construction roundup: people-first builder, rising school project costs, community-focused firms, road program progress and rapid national expansion

Key points first: A long-running family builder based in Baton Rouge highlights a people-first approach while modernizing operations. Rising material costs tied to pandemic inflation and tariffs have pushed local school projects over their original budgets. A Baton Rouge firm known for multifamily and commercial work emphasizes safety and community giving. The parish road program is delivering projects on a multidecade schedule. A Baton Rouge electrical contractor has expanded rapidly into national tech and energy projects.

Wesley Construction: a people-first legacy

Wesley Construction started in 1984. When Wesley Construction started in 1984 there were no computers and the company used paper files. In the early years checks at the company were written out by hand and business was conducted in person or on the telephone. An email address was eventually added for the company. The company is based in Baton Rouge and has done work in 33 states, including a recently finished project in Eugene, Oregon.

The company retains a strong focus on relationships, trust and craftsmanship even as younger leadership adds modern tools. The current vice president joined the family business in 2019 and chose to learn the business the old way before changing processes. Modern touches now include direct deposit, social media and Procore construction management software. Wesley Construction promotes a one-stop-shop approach that helps retain clients, and the company works with local community-serving businesses including Tumbles kid’s fitness gym, Parkview Baptist School, Ochsner and Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center.

Wesley Construction contact information: 10182 Patriot Drive, Baton Rouge, LA 70816; phone 225.753.5600; website wesleyusa.com.

School project costs: pandemic inflation and tariffs

Rollover inflation from the pandemic, coupled with tariffs on wood and steel, has sent material costs sharply higher. For government-funded projects, contracts are awarded through a bidding process based on estimated costs at the time of the bid. Unforeseen factors like tariffs can disrupt initial estimates and cause the final price to exceed the bid.

Recent project cost escalations include Brownfields Elementary, which was initially bid at $25.1 million in 2023 and now has a budget of $28.9 million. The Baton Rouge Center for Visual and Performing Arts was budgeted at $28.1 million in 2023 and has grown to over $34.4 million. Demolition costs have climbed as well: a demolition that cost $290,000 in 2021 for the same system is now expected to exceed $500,000 for a similar demolition and remodel job.

Contractors report big increases in materials such as wood, cabinets, upholstery and some raw materials, with rounds of price growth totaling roughly 25% at one point and another rise of 10-25% appearing on the horizon. Managing budgets in this environment requires careful planning and looking at projects the way one manages personal finances: examine scope, align budgets, and seek options to lower costs together with contractors and suppliers.

GEC: community focus, safety and training

Grant Ethridge Construction started in 2012 with a focus on multifamily new construction and renovations before expanding into commercial work. The firm assigns a field superintendent and a project manager to each project, holds biweekly owner-architect-contractor meetings, and uses Procore software for project management. GEC has partnered with a safety company to make safety a company core value and daily practice on every project.

Notable projects include housing work like Progress Park and Hollywood Acres and restaurant renovations for three distinctive Baton Rouge restaurants. A standout project is Les Maison de Bayou Lafourche apartment homes in Lockport, which received the first Fortified Gold Multifamily Designation by the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety and was designed to withstand a Category 3 hurricane; the project saw minimal damage during Category 4 Hurricane Ida in 2021.

The firm runs an internship program that trains construction management students and often hires them into permanent roles. The company also presents and supports local fundraising events for a charity that helps families who have experienced the loss of a child.

MoveEBR road program: timeline and progress

Voters approved a half-cent sales tax in 2018 for 71 road projects that went into effect on April 1, 2019 and will remain in place until March 31, 2049. Proceeds of the tax can be spent only on the approved list of projects. Some of the original 71 projects were broken into smaller related projects for a total of 139 MoveEBR projects. To date, 27 MoveEBR projects have been completed. The most recent ribbon-cutting on Aug. 1 opened a new two-lane road from Picardy Avenue to Constantin Boulevard. Several other MoveEBR projects are now under active construction or will be soon.

MMR Group: rapid national expansion

MMR Group was founded in 1991 and grew out of oil and gas electrical work into a diversified national contractor. The company has about 10,000 employees and annual revenue grew by 75% in 2024 to more than $2.3 billion. Revenue was around $705 million in 2015. MMR has more than two dozen offices across North America and has expanded into technology-sector infrastructure work, including electrical work on a large semiconductor complex in Idaho and electrical installation on a major data center in Virginia.

MMR has been an electrical contractor on large liquefied natural gas terminals and is active on major energy and renewable projects. The firm opened a regional headquarters in Salt Lake City to oversee Western projects and to expand its foothold in Utah. MMR has a workforce development program called MMR University launched in 2023 and has made large donations to local university programs. Leadership says the company will remain privately owned and based in Baton Rouge while continuing national expansion.

What this means for the local construction scene

Local builders are balancing traditional client relationships with new technologies and systems. Public projects face cost pressure from global factors, forcing closer collaboration among school systems, contractors and suppliers. Growing firms are bringing Baton Rouge construction skills to major national projects, while local road funding continues to deliver visible improvements in neighborhoods across the parish.

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Key features at a glance

For tips or to send information about local projects, use local news tip channels or the contact listed for Wesley Construction above.

Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic

Additional Resources

• Business Report: Wesley Construction embarks on a second generation with a focus on quality, relationships and craftsmanship
• Wikipedia: Construction
• WAFB: Rising construction costs challenge school projects in East Baton Rouge
• Google Search: Baton Rouge school construction rising costs 2025
• Business Report: For the Record — GECs’ hands-on approach results in projects finished on time and on budget
• Google Scholar: construction cost escalation school projects
• 1012 Industry Report: Hut 8 breaks ground on massive data center north of Baton Rouge
• Encyclopedia Britannica: data center
• NOLA.com: Baton Rouge electrical contractor MMR expands into AI, data centers and LNG work
• Google News: MMR Group data centers Baton Rouge

Author: Construction TX News

TEXAS STAFF WRITER The TEXAS STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at constructiontxnews.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Texas and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the Texas Construction Expo, major infrastructure unveilings, and advancements in construction technology showcases. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Associated General Contractors of Texas and the Texas Building Branch, plus leading businesses in construction and real estate that power the local economy such as Austin Commercial and CMiC Global. As part of the broader network, including constructioncanews.com, constructionnynews.com, and constructionflnews.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into the dynamic construction landscape across multiple states.