Robert M. Coleman & Partners, together with two other Baton Rouge architects, was commissioned to master plan a nutritional research center that was envisioned by philanthropist, C.B. Pennington. Pennington suggested a three-phase development that would include basic and applied research facilities, housing for patients and participants in nutritional research, and a nutritional teaching and research hospital. Of the original plan, anticipated to cost approximately $100,000,000.00, Phase I consisting of basic research, animal research, and outpatient treatment, and Phase II consisting of housing for patients and researchers, together with a state-of-the-art conference center, have been completed.