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 builders, rising school project costs, community-focused firms, road program progress and rapid national expansion

Key developments in the Baton Rouge-area construction world include a multi-decade people-first legacy at a local family firm, sharp material cost increases that have pushed public school projects over budget, a regional builder known for safety and community work, steady progress on a voter-approved road plan, and a Baton Rouge electrical firm rapidly expanding nationwide into tech and energy work.

Top line: legacy builder emphasizes relationships while modernizing operations

Steve Wesley started Wesley Construction in 1984. The company began before widespread office computing, using paper files and handwritten checks, and relied on in-person and telephone business. The firm remains based in Baton Rouge at 10182 Patriot Drive, Baton Rouge, LA 70816, with phone 225.753.5600 and website wesleyusa.com.

The company maintains a strong focus on client relationships and craftsmanship while gradually adding modern operations such as direct deposit, social media and Procore construction management software. The current leadership joined the family business in 2019 and spent the first year learning traditional operational methods before making incremental changes. Wesley Construction has completed work in 33 states and recently finished a project in Eugene, Oregon. The company promotes a one-stop-shop approach to help retain clients and favors organic growth focused on long-term client trust. A standout project for the firm was the renovation of New Orleans’ Roosevelt Hotel, with subsequent repeat work that led to projects from San Diego to Washington, D.C., and Seattle to Miami. The firm also works locally with community-serving businesses and medical and school clients.

School construction: pandemic inflation and tariffs push budgets higher

Rollover inflation from the pandemic, coupled with President Trump’s tariffs on wood and steel, has sent material costs through the roof. That combination has produced sharp increases in the cost of materials such as wood, cabinets, upholstery and some raw materials. Contractors report earlier rises of roughly 25 percent followed by additional increases in the 10–25 percent range. Those swings can quickly disrupt contract estimates that were based on bids submitted before the price shifts.

Examples of recent escalations include Brownfields Elementary, originally bid at $25.1 million in 2023 and now with a budget of $28.9 million, and the Baton Rouge Center for Visual and Performing Arts, budgeted at $28.1 million in 2023 and now over $34.4 million. A demolition and remodel that cost $290,000 in 2021 for a similar job is now expected to exceed $500,000 for a current project. Managing these budgets requires careful planning and cooperation among owners, architects and contractors to find cost-lowering options and to absorb unavoidable increases.

Grant Ethridge Construction: quality, safety and community focus

Grant Ethridge Construction began in 2012 focused on multifamily construction and renovations and later expanded into commercial work. The firm assigns a field superintendent and a project manager to each project, uses Procore for management, holds biweekly owner-architect-contractor meetings, and partners with a dedicated safety firm to keep safety a daily practice. Notable projects include multifamily housing such as Progress Park and Hollywood Acres, and restaurant work including several distinctive local eateries. One apartment project in Lockport received a Fortified Gold Multifamily Designation and showed minimal damage during Hurricane Ida in 2021. The company runs an internship program that trains construction management students into project manager roles and supports local causes, including presenting sponsorship and fundraising support for a local bereavement nonprofit founded by the firm’s general manager.

MoveEBR road program: voter-funded, multi-decade program making steady progress

Local voters in 2018 approved a half-cent sales tax for 71 road projects under the MoveEBR name. The tax took effect on April 1, 2019, and will remain in place until March 31, 2049. Some original projects were split so the total list now includes 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 additional projects are under active construction or will begin soon, all funded only from the approved list of projects under the sales tax.

MMR Group expands quickly from energy roots into tech and national work

MMR Group began in 1991 and has grown from oil and gas electrical work into a nationwide contractor on energy, LNG, semiconductor and data center projects. The firm reported annual revenue growth of 75 percent in 2024 to more than $2.3 billion, up from around $705 million in 2015. The company employs roughly 10,000 people and operates more than two dozen offices across North America. Recent work includes major LNG terminals, hyperscale data centers, a large semiconductor facility in the southwestern U.S., and overseeing electrical installation on a $15 billion semiconductor complex on the outskirts of Boise, Idaho. The firm has opened a regional headquarters in Salt Lake City to manage western projects and has a workforce development program launched in 2023 that fast-tracks students into skilled roles. The company has made multi-million-dollar donations to local university programs and emphasizes remaining a privately owned, Baton Rouge-based operation as it expands nationwide.

What this means for the region

The region’s construction scene shows a blend of traditional, relationship-driven firms updating operations; growing pressure from volatile materials markets; and local companies capitalizing on national infrastructure and tech investment. Public projects face new budget realities, private firms continue to expand their geographic reach, and voter-backed road funding keeps a long pipeline of local work alive.

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Key features at a glance

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 CA News

CALIFORNIA STAFF WRITER The CALIFORNIA STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at constructioncanews.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in California 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 Rose Parade, Coachella, Comic-Con, and the California State Fair. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the California Building Industry Association and Associated General Contractors of California, plus leading businesses in technology and entertainment that power the local economy such as Apple and Alphabet. As part of the broader network, including constructionnynews.com, constructiontxnews.com, and constructionflnews.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into the dynamic landscape across multiple states.