LSU athletics took another major step forward Tuesday afternoon as ground was symbolically broken on the location where construction will soon begin on a new $14 million practice facility for the men and women’s teams at LSU.

The ground breaking took part on the North side of the Pete Maravich Assembly Center between the two existing ramps that will eventually be moved to make way for the building that will eventually connect on the North side of the Maravich Center.

The facility will be constructed by Guy Hopkins Construction of Baton Rouge based on designs by the firm of Tom Holden Architects of Baton Rouge in a unique joint venture with RDG Sports of Des Moines, Iowa.

“This basketball facility will offer our coaches and student-athletes the type of teaching and working environment that will be beneficial to both,” said LSU Associate Athletic Director of Operations and Project Development Eddie Nunez. “This facility will compete with everything in our conference and around the country as one of the best practice facilities that our basketball teams have the opportunity to use for years to come.”