PFT Self-Guided Tour

Welcome to a self-guided tour of Patrick F. Taylor Hall. Below are maps of the first and second floors of PFT, with tour stops indicated by the purple outlined numbers. At these locations, click the corresponding button below to read or listen to a description of the space. When you are finished reading/listening, simply click the "Top" button in the bottom right-hand corner of the screen to find the next stop. We hope you enjoy the tour!

First Floor Map

PFT First Floor Map. Refer to text on page to describe each stop.

 

Second Floor Map

PFT Second Floor Map. Refer to text on page to describe each stop.

1. Capstone Gallery

PFT Capstone Gallery

 

 

Welcome to Patrick F. Taylor Hall, home to the LSU College of Engineering. Named after 1959 petroleum engineering graduate, Patrick F. Taylor, it is the largest academic building in the state of Louisiana and one of the largest free-standing College of Engineering buildings in the United States. As a result of our recent $114-million renovation and expansion, this building is now more than 400,000 square feet and provides students and faculty with state-of-the-art classrooms and labs. It also serves as the central hub for the College of Engineering’s eight academic departments, which educate thousands of undergraduate and graduate students each year.

Capstone Gallery audio

 

2. Cambre Atrium & Donor Wall

PFT Cambre Atrium

 

 

The Cambre Atrium is one of three main common spaces in Patrick F. Taylor Hall. It connects what was the existing old building to a newly built, three-story lab annex. A number of chemical engineering labs run the length of the Cambre Atrium on one side, and classrooms line the other, ranging in size from about 30 seats up to 150 seats.  The largest classroom space in the building is the RoyOMartin Auditorium, which holds up to 250 students. Across from the doors to the RoyOMartin Auditorium, you’ll find the Donor Wall, which recognizes the names of donors and industry partners who, along with funds from the state of Louisiana, helped make the renovation of Patrick F. Taylor Hall possible.

Cambre Atrium audio

 

3. DOW Chemical Unit Operations Lab (1114)

PFT DOW Chemical Ops Lab

 

 

The Dow Chemical Unit Operations Laboratory is a learning lab housed within the Cain Department of Chemical Engineering. It contains various pieces of equipment that are designed to complete specific “unit operations.” A unit operation is a single step in a chemical process, such as separation, crystallization, oxidation, etc. For instance, the first machine on the left is an Ethylene Oxidation Reactor, which, as the name suggests, oxidizes ethylene into ethylene oxide, a common compound found in laundry detergents. Much of the equipment in this space has been donated or funded by industry partners and gives students in the chemical engineering program valuable hands-on experience with industry-grade equipment. To the right of the lab, is a distillation column, which can be viewed better from the second floor. This unit separates components--water and a series of glycols--into pure or near pure components by the differences in the vapor pressure of the components. Students have the chance to work on a distillation unit that is a true commercial analog of those they will be expected to operate when they enter the workforce as chemical engineers. This unit would not be out of place at a commercial pharmaceutical or specialty chemical facility that operates in the commercial world. It is built to those specifications and design criteria. Students will physically interact with equipment in their junior-year lab and then learn to run the equipment from the adjacent control room as seniors.

DOW Chemical Unit Operations Lab audio

 

4. BASF Sustainable Living Lab (1154)

BASF Lab

 

 

The BASF Sustainable Living Laboratory was funded by a $1 million donation from BASF. The flooring, paint, and ceiling in this lab are all made from BASF products. The lab space is dedicated to research investigating sustainable solutions to meet global challenges. The current researcher-in-residence, Dr. Jimmy Lawrence, studies and develops new functional polymers and nanoscale composites for healthcare, energy, environmental, and other industrial applications.

BASF Sustainable Living Lab audio

 

5. The Commons (1278)

PFT Commons

 

 

This atrium space is aptly named “The Commons” and serves as the main gathering space for everyone in Patrick F. Taylor Hall. Students frequent this space between classes, not only because of the Panera Bread, but also because of the nearby Dow Student Leadership Incubator, which serves as a meeting and storage space for the more than 40 student organizations that are part of our college.

The Commons audio

 

6. Mechanical Engineering Labs (1354)

Mechanical Engineering Lab in PFT

 

 

This section of Patrick F. Taylor Hall is home to many student-focused lab spaces for mechanical and industrial engineering, including the human factors, thermal systems, materials, and instrumentation labs. Within these labs, you will find equipment like a wind tunnel, tensile strength testers, and 3D-motion analysis systems.

Mechanical Engineering Labs audio

 

7. Civil Engineering Labs (1323)

Civil Engineering Lab in PFT

 

 

In this section of Patrick F. Taylor Hall, you will find most of our civil engineering student labs. Here, our students test concrete for strength and damage, test and create asphalt, test the chemical composition and strength of soils, and study the strength of metal and timber.

Civil Engineering Labs audio

 

8. Robotics Lab (1300)

PFT Robotics Lab

 

 

The College of Engineering offers a minor in robotics and provides a lab space to support this program. Some of the equipment housed in this lab include a hydraulic robotic arm; robotic vehicles, such as spiders and crawlers; and a mini humanoid robot named “Darwin.”

Robotics Lab audio

 

9. Chevron Center for Engineering Education (1269) 

Chevron Center in PFT

 

 

The Chevron Center for Engineering Education is one of three studios that support a university-wide program called Communication Across the Curriculum, which was started in 2005 by a chemical engineering alum. The program focuses on improving four areas of communication: written, spoken, visual, and technological, while deepening student learning of course content. This space has 3D printers, large format printers, and many electronic devices that students may rent to complete class projects. Students who take the required number of communication-intensive courses and complete a senior portfolio can graduate as a Distinguished Communicator. The College of Engineering is proud to graduate the most Distinguished Communicators each year, thanks in large part to this space and the professional staff who run it.

Chevron Center for Engineering Education audio

 

10. BIM Lab (2348)

BIM Lab in PFT

 

 

The MMR Building Information Modeling Laboratory is utilized by construction management students and was specially designed and constructed by our faculty. The lab space consists of 44 4K displays that allow for three-dimensional and computer-generated views of building plans. This allows students and faculty to virtually visit building sites to make assessments, alter plans, and consider concerns like safety and maintenance. In addition to this unique lab space, the Bert S. Turner Department of Construction Management has several labs and classrooms on the third floor, including an estimating and scheduling lab, a room with several CATS equipment simulators, and an advanced materials lab.

BIM Lab audio

 

11. Proto Lab (2272)

Proto Lab in PFT

 

 

The Mark and Carolyn Guidry Electrical Engineering Laboratory Duplex houses a microprocessor interfacing lab and a proto lab. This space is used by students to fabricate circuit boards and create device prototypes. It is designed as a chemistry lab with fume hoods to allow students to safely handle chemicals required for circuitry and is fully outfitted with soldering stations, cutting machines, and 3D printers. Additionally, the lighting and windows are designed to filter out UV light, which would interfere with the process of layering circuit boards. This lab duplex was made possible by College of Engineering alumni Mark and Carolyn Guidry, whose unique story is provided on the nearby purple placard.

Proto Lab audio

 

12. Annex/Drilling Fluids Lab (2147)

Civil Engineering Drilling and Fluids lab

 

 

This hallway runs the length of the Chemical Engineering Annex – the portion of Patrick F. Taylor Hall that was built “from the ground up” as part of the recent renovation and expansion. The annex contains numerous chemical engineering laboratories, as well as laboratories for construction management, civil engineering, environmental engineering, and petroleum engineering spread throughout its three floors.

Engineering Annex audio

 

This particular petroleum engineering space is the Drilling Fluids Laboratory. Drilling fluids are the mixtures of water, clay, minerals and chemicals used by petroleum engineers to maintain pressure within a well, clean and lubricate drill bits and bore holes, and transport cuttings and debris to the surface. Since each well is unique, petroleum engineers must tailor the chemical and physical properties of drilling fluids to each well’s geology in order to control pressures and maintain safety. Petroleum engineers use many different methods and types of equipment to measure and adjust drilling fluids including mud balances, filter presses, and viscometers. This lab provides a space for students to gain hands-on experience with this type of equipment so they are well-prepared for work in the field.

Drilling Fluids Lab audio

 

13. Civil Engineering Driving Simulator Lab (2215)

Civil Engineering Driving Simulator Lab

 

 

The Civil Engineering Driving Simulator Laboratory allows students and faculty to research driving behaviors, environments, and traffic. Equipped with multiple screens, projectors, and blackout curtains, this lab gives our researchers the ability to test drive on new roadways and study drivers’ reactions to unexpected obstacles and events. Recent research projects include the outcomes of distracted driving, the effects of various weather conditions, and how drivers might interact with a semi-autonomous driving system.

Civil Engineering Driving Simulator Lab audio

 

14. Brookshire Student Services Suite (2228)

Brookshire Student Services Suite

 

 

The Dr. William A. Brookshire Student Services Suite is a “go-to” first stop for most students who have questions or need help with the administrative and academic demands that come with being a college student. The Office of Student Services provides many resources, as well as academic advisors, all of whom are licensed professional counselors, to help with things like changing majors, adding a minor, and verifying how course credits have transferred from other institutions. This suite also houses other professional staff, including an engineering career coach, recruiting and outreach staff, and staff working on diversity initiatives.

We hope you’ve enjoyed this tour of Patrick F. Taylor Hall and learned some interesting and helpful information. To learn even more about the LSU College of Engineering, visit out our website at lsu.edu/eng.

Brookshire Student Services Suite audio