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Louisiana State University Parking Garage

Baton Rouge, Louisiana

In Joint Venture with Jerry Campbell and Associates of Baton Rouge, the noted New Orleans architectural firm, Kessels Diboll Kessels (KDK), acquired by VergesRome Architects in 2010, has designed a 752-car parking garage for the Louisiana State University campus. Located on a parcel of land bounded by Highland Road, Raphael Semmes, and East Campus Drive, the $22.8 Million facility was completed in March 2013. The six-story LSU parking structure was designed to complement the existing architectural fabric of the University.

The project also included the design of a space for the new location of the Barnes and Noble LSU Bookstore that is accessed on the Highland Road frontage, as part of the complex containing the new garage. The bookstore can also be accessed from the garage. Additional ancillary space has been included on Level One of the garage for the use of various campus organizations.

Morris Jeff Community School at Fisk Howard

New Orleans, Louisiana

The design of the new Morris Jeff Community School at Fisk Howard, located in Mid-City New Orleans, presented challenges as the building program and available land to develop was quite constricted. The building is a three-story structure with gymnasium, with associated functions at nearly two stories. The total area of the new school is 106,212SF situated on a full parcel city block of 103,750SF. The Joint Venture team of VergesRome + Fanning Howey developed a design to reflect neighborhood character and address scale with various exterior building material options. The new school is mandated to be certified LEED Silver.

VergesRome Architects designed a spirited, engaging environment for students while complementing the scale and eclectic styles of the surrounding neighborhood.

Citation for “Outstanding Designs: Elementary Schools”
American School & University Magazine

Plaquemines Parish Faculty Housing

Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana

VergesRome Architects was awarded two projects by the Plaquemines Parish School Board to provide faculty housing to replace housing destroyed during Hurricane Katrina. The original housing, consisting primarily of single-family, slab on grade houses, was consolidated into multi-family housing units. In conformity with FEMA guidelines, all replacement units were required to be designed as elevated structures to mitigate future flooding concerns in this low-lying coastal area. Parking is accommodated on the Ground Level under the 17’ high elevation.

The faculty housing developments are located off-site but in general proximity to the Plaquemines Parish schools served. The largest of the projects, located at Buras, Louisiana, provides 32 faculty apartments ranging in size from one-bedroom to three-bedroom units. The Buras housing facility consists of eight buildings, totaling approximately 32,000 SF, with a 3,000 SF Housing Annex building. The raised units are interconnected by a system of covered walkways.

A second faculty housing facility, designed for Port Sulphur, provides a total of seven units contained in one building.

City Putt Miniature Golf Course Clubhouse

New Orleans, Louisiana

VergesRome Architects designed a clubhouse for the City Park’s new City Putt miniature golf courses as subconsultant to Prime Consultant, Cashio Cochran, LLC. Located on the west side of the Great Lawn across from Storyland, the City Putt complex is one of many new attractions at the park. 

The program required a conditioned, centrally located lobby for check-in and admissions, pickup and return counters, and putting equipment storage. Two party rental rooms, each with their own icemaker/ bin, are sited on each side of the admissions area. Restrooms and storage space complete the design program.

Decks and footbridges connect the clubhouse to two locally themed 18-hole miniature golf courses with water features winding throughout the site. Decks leading to the golf courses provide ample seating for patrons, and restroom access. An aluminum storefront, custom color-matched to the metal standing-seam roof, supports ample glazing offering wide views over the spacious deck to the mini-golf courses beyond.

The clubhouse is a combination of structural steel and metal stud frame construction with cement-board siding. Exposed steel framing in the interior of the lobby lends a rustic look. Neutral colors are employed throughout, accented by bright splashes of color at the lobby counters.

Gold Seal Lofts

New Orleans, Louisiana

In Design-Build alliance with Woodward Design+Build, VergesRome Architects designed an apartment complex in Mid-City, converting the former Gold Seal Creamery production plant building into 31 mixed-income loft apartments. The adaptive reuse infill project incorporated innovative green design features that aligned with many LEED for Homes guidelines, facilitating a CDBG grant, bonus depreciations, tax credits and abatements, all integral to the creative financing for the project.

The existing former creamery plant, built in 1954, consisted of an 18,000 sf 2-story blond brick production plant building lined on two sides by a 1-story, 11,000 sf “lean-to” warehouse building.
The conversion design retained the existing structures, transforming the ‘lean-to’ warehouse into additional apartments with 16’ ceiling heights. Existing exposed steel bar joists were retained to draw upon the character of the existing facility. Approximately 15’ of the “lean-to” roof, between the 2-story plant and new façade of the ‘lean-to’ apartments, was removed to create an interior courtyard allowing natural light into the apartments facing the courtyard.

Existing steel bar joists were left exposed over the courtyard, sealed with high performance paint for durability outdoors.

Transom windows were utilized over each door and window to maximize natural light and to emphasize the ceiling heights. Stained concrete apartment floors provided tenants with a low-maintenance, environmentally friendly, non-allergenic alternative to carpet.

Windows were replaced with missile-impact resistant, low-e windows that echoed the architectural style of the original glazing. The controlled-access parking lot was paved with high Solar Reflective Index (>60) concrete to reduce urban heat island effect.

Maximizing sustainable and green design features where feasible, the Gold Seal Lofts feature Energy Star and water-conserving appliances, and high-efficiency HVAC and hot-water systems. Photovoltaic panels provide solar energy to reduce energy dependency. Two contiguous vacant lots were planted to provide a community garden for the Gold Seal tenants, while the facility’s landscaping minimizes water use. Set within a walkable community with proximity to mass transit, the Gold Seal Loft conversion exemplifies how smart reuse of blighted facilities can benefit an entire neighborhood.

Mid-City Market

New Orleans, Louisiana

Mid-City Market shopping center in New Orleans is situated along the Lafitte Greenway pedestrian and bicycle corridor in Mid-City, extending to the corner of Bienville Street and North Carrollton Avenue. The complex features a 53,000 SF Winn-Dixie grocery store at the rear of a parcel of property that was an area of blight for several years. An additional 55,000 SF of retail space is distributed among multiple buildings.

The Lafitte Greenway runs alongside the Winn-Dixie, and other retail establishments in the complex face this Greenway. The designs for the center capitalize on its proximity to the Greenway by incorporating features such as shade, trellises, outdoor dining areas, and a plaza with benches. Another section of the center extends to Bienville Street, offering various retail establishments, attractions, and amenities for shoppers, pedestrians, and cyclists. The planning of vehicular traffic flow, particularly for commercial vehicles, was done with care to ensure safe circulation for pedestrians. The site planning and conceptual design process involved full participation and input from neighborhood groups like the Mid-City Neighborhood Organization and the Friends of the Lafitte Corridor. Residents, future greenway users, and local merchants recognize the appeal of this centrally located shopping area for people living, working, or attending school in the vicinity. The tenant mix includes specialty retail shops, businesses, banking, a fitness studio, and locally-based restaurants. Additionally, the old Loubat Building on Bienville Street was also designed by VRA as a mixed-use development and offices

Pan American Life Center IberiaBank Atrium

New Orleans, Louisiana

VergesRome, facility architect for the 28-story Pan American Life Center in the New Orleans CBD, was commissioned to redesign the seven-story atrium situated on Floors 21 through 27.

The program’s criteria were creation of a gathering space for Iberia Bank’s employees to enjoy lunch or breaks, and for hosting special after-hours events. VRA added a monumental stair of glass and steel for easy access from an upper floor to the heart of the space. Materials of weathered wood flooring integrated with turf and carpet systems reflect and connect to the outdoors. The new kitchen and conference room design correspond to the atrium finishes and design. Retractable Nana Wall glass wall systems that separate the kitchen and conference room from the atrium when closed can open to the atrium and adjacent spaces.

South Plaquemines High School

Port Sulphur, Louisiana

VergesRome Architects designed South Plaquemines High School for the Plaquemines Parish School System, on the site of the former Buras Middle School in destroyed in 2005 by Hurricane Katrina. Designed to accommodate 650 students in over 125,000 SF of area, the school provides for the school district’s projected population growth. Flood and storm surge risks are mitigated through the design at 18’ above grade, in compliance with FEMA mandates. With a cost of $37.3 Million, the school opened for students in Fall 2013. VRA also designed a new vehicular access bridge to the school in a separate, CDBG-funded improvement project.

Five science laboratories and a library/media center are outfitted with modern cutting-edge equipment and technology capabilities.  A 700-seat Gymnasium with 200-seat Auxiliary Gym, training and equipment rooms, locker/shower/toilet rooms, and offices are provided for Physical Education.

Arts education is supported through Band/Chorus, Drama/Speech classrooms; Music Library; offices; and music performance practice rooms. The Visual Arts room is augmented by a Kiln Room. A 700-seat Auditorium with stage, dressing rooms, prop construction room, and costume room was completed in early 2015.

In addition to the core academic areas, South Plaquemines High School also contains a Special Education Department serving Middle and High School Special Education students, with a daily living kitchen; resource and conference rooms; a Speech and Therapy classroom; and seclusion space. A Career and Technology Education Center is incorporated within the school. The school has 5,000 SF of administrative and guidance offices, and 8,000 SF in foodservice, dining and common areas.

Patrick F. Taylor Science & Technology Academy

Avondale, Louisiana

A dramatic new educational facility for Jefferson Parish Schools, the Patrick F. Taylor Regional Science and Technology Academy was designed by Joint Venture of Perez, APC, and VergesRome Architects, APAC. Completed in time for classes in August 2013, the $27 Million, two-story, 99,762 SF facility serving grades 6 – 12, is located in JEDCO’s Churchill Technology Park in Avondale, Louisiana. Conceived as an incubator benefiting students, Patrick Taylor Academy also includes a 6,843 SF Conference Center managed by JEDCO.

Twenty-Eight classrooms are distributed in three two-story classroom wings; each has its own spacious, flexible area that enhances students’ collaborative learning and social experiences. Storefront glass walls between classrooms, flexible spaces and clerestory windows bring daylight far into the interior. All classrooms, Chemistry, Biology, Robotics and Multimedia Labs, and Drama Classroom have state-of-the-art Smart Boards and hardwired and wireless internet access. Collaborative learning and team building is further encouraged in the Video Conference Room and Green Roof Deck.

The Student Commons is a two-story large gathering space for student addresses, presentations, socialization and classwork preparation. A food-court-style Cafeteria opens to an outdoor courtyard.

Architectural details provide teaching tools, including exposed cast-in-place concrete stucco, and exposed HVAC, plumbing, electrical, technology and fire protection systems. Suspended acoustical clouds and baffles expose building systems while providing indirect lighting distribution and sound attenuation. Large roof and floor projections provide sun shading, allowing large expanses of curtain wall on south-facing classrooms.

2018 Award of Merit, AIA Louisiana
2018 Excellence In Sustainability Honor Award, USGBC Louisiana
2014 New Orleans Magazine, New New Orleans Architecture: 6 Buildings Among the Best
2014 Award of Excellence / Outstanding Project, Learning by Design
2014 People’s Choice Award, AIA New Orleans

4848 Veterans Boulevard

Metairie, Louisiana

VergesRome Architects designed a two-building suburban retail and dining destination, on the former site of a large sprawling automobile dealership. Completed in Summer, 2012, the new development offers national tenants Bonefish Grill, Panera Bread, and Pei Wei. VRA’s design created distinctive identities for each establishment while complying with their individual national brand identity and design criteria. The visually appealing 9,000 SF building housing Bonefish Grill and Panera Bread is a combination of brick and stucco, with distinctive entries. Overhangs serving as light shelves project light through the spaces and allow the use of tall windows. The second building, with Pei Wei and retail space, is an 8,400 SF, predominantly brick structure that complements the other building while maintaining its own unique style through careful architectural detailing.

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Archives

Louisiana State University Parking Garage

Morris Jeff Community School at Fisk Howard

Plaquemines Parish Faculty Housing

City Putt Miniature Golf Course Clubhouse

Gold Seal Lofts

Mid-City Market

Pan American Life Center IberiaBank Atrium

South Plaquemines High School

Patrick F. Taylor Science & Technology Academy

4848 Veterans Boulevard