New Pere Rouquette Library at Saint Joseph Abbey + Seminary College
Saint Benedict, Louisiana
Associated Office Systems Expansion and Renovation
New Orleans, Louisiana
LSU Dental School – New Annex Building
New Orleans, Louisiana
John McDonogh High School Renovation
New Orleans, Louisiana
AOS Interior Environments
New Orleans, Louisiana
VergesRome Architects was retained by AOS to design their new flagship office in downtown New Orleans in 2001. The design intent was to accommodate future growth for the company, while balancing workplace and showroom. The new office spaces showcased the interior systems furnishings and planning services AOS provides, inspiring both designers and clients.
In 2017, AOS had the opportunity to expand their offices. VergesRome Architects and Eskew Dumez Ripple collaborated to update the AOS offices to correspond to current design trends and showcase the potential of DIRTT wall systems. The 8,453 sf space again artfully balances workspace and showroom, and capitalizes on stunning downtown New Orleans views.
2018 AIA Honor Citation for the Gulf Coast Region
2018 IIDA Delta Regional Chapter Award of Excellence
2018 USGBC Louisiana Chapter Award
Pere Rouquette Library at Saint Joseph Abbey + Seminary College
St. Benedict, Louisiana
Saint Joseph Seminary College’s enrollment has significantly increased in recent years, creating a demand for updated housing and academic upgrades. To accommodate this growth, Rouquette Library needed a new home to make possible the return of Savio Hall, where Rouquette Library once resided, to its original function as a student residence.
The site for the new library was carefully selected in a location that does not disrupt the current mid-century modern master plan of the campus, and places it in a location that visitors can access without compromising the private sectors of the campus. The site selected was the former swimming pool site.
The building was designed with three stories, with the ground floor used as exterior covered space for activities with easy access to other activities on the campus. The elevated structure not only reflects the elevated design of nearby Pius X Hall, but also offers protection for the seminary’s book collection in the event of flooding. The second floor houses the main collection with faculty resources for research, writing, and reading. The third floor provides collaborative student space along with two conference rooms for small lectures and meetings. The third floor will also house the library’s collection of bound serials and offer extended hours, until 10:00 p.m., each evening.
In addition, as the seminarians love the views of their campus, the new library design provides a nearly 360-degree panorama of the entire campus.
John McDonogh School Renovations
New Orleans, Louisiana
The John McDonogh School building is located at 2426 Esplanade Ave. The main three-story, 92,000 SF school opened in the early 1900’s. The solid masonry structure with decorative plaster trim began an extensive renovation in February of 2017. The school is currently being renovated inside and out to serve as an Kindergarten through 8th grade.
Exterior renovations include a complete refurbishment of all exterior wood windows, tuckpointing of all mortar joints, installing new masonry ties to mitigate cracking of solid masonry walls, cleaning of masonry and installing a clear breathable water repellent. All decorative plaster trim and cornices, including the plaster entrance façade, are being refurbished and painted. The art glass windows at the front entrance are being refurbished to match the original art glass windows as closely as possible.
The ground floor was completely demolished and redesigned to create 14 Classrooms to accommodate Kindergarten through 3rd grade, as well as an Art Room, Offices and Conference Room. Also located on the ground floor is a full-service kitchen.
Original classroom configurations were kept where possible on the 2nd and 3rd floors. The 2nd floor also contains administrative offices and a 450-seat Auditorium that has been refurbished to restore the original coffered ceilings. The 3rd floor provides Classrooms, Media Center, Science Lab, Music and Art Rooms. Finishes throughout the Main Building have been replaced.
The existing Gymnasium has been demolished and replaced with a new state-of-the-art 22,000 SF Gymnasium and will accommodate new locker rooms, a Maker Lab and Health Lab. The project will be LEED-Certified.
New Orleans Charter Science and Mathematics High School (SciHigh)
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans Science and Mathematics High School, also known as Sci High, offers specialized instruction in science, math, and technology, and provides an open door to any interested New Orleans high school student. The school now serves more than 450 students, expects to serve 600 to 700 students as it continues to grow, and has outgrown its current location in a former elementary school building.
In 2020, Sci High will move into a new facility designed by VergesRome Architects specifically to support their coursework and mission. The facility will be fully ADA accessible and will include specialty labs for biomedical, health, engineering and skilled crafts courses to support the school’s emphasis on rigorous STEM courses. The new facility is located one block from the Lafitte Greenway and two blocks from the new biomedical corridor.
Due to the small site size, the school is designed with an elevated gymnasium to allow space below for parking and playground space.
Saint Joseph Abbey + Seminary College, Vianney Hall Renovation
Saint Benedict, Louisiana
St. Charles Catholic High School Renovations
LaPlace, Louisiana
The Additions and Renovations to St. Charles Catholic High School in LaPlace involved a major exterior face lift to the main school building, a pre-engineered metal structure constructed in 1977. The exterior renovations replaced the old blue metal siding with brick, stucco and aluminum storefront windows.
The Entry Addition brought prominence to the nondescript school entrance. The 1,400 SF Entry Addition includes a brick and cast stone entry portal, a vestibule, a conference room immediately off the vestibule, and added a new computer lab. The polished terrazzo floors of the vestibule extend into the main lobby and to the school administrative offices. The conference room, which seats 20 people, was designed to accommodate faculty and school board meetings and replaces the school’s only conference room which had been converted into faculty offices.
The Commons Expansion added 1,850 SF of café style seating to the cafeteria and includes a tower dedicated to the memory of Lt. Col. Robert J. Hymel, an alumni of St. Charles Borromeo High School and a decorated Vietnam War veteran killed in the 9/11 attack on the Pentagon. A new presentation wall displays the school’s state trophies and is the backdrop for the Quarterback Club and other meetings.
The 126-seat 2,500 SF stand-alone Chapel is designed for celebration of the Mass by an entire grade level and for the football team’s pre-game Mass. The new chapel’s site was positioned in the heart of the campus.
The gymnasium was also renovated, receiving a new court surface, new goals and bleachers, a new audio/visual system, and a new white perforated acoustical metal ceiling and LED lighting.