Academy of the Sacred Heart Arts & Athletics Center

The transformation of an antiquated facility breathes new life into the back of campus and establishes a focal point for physical activity and creative expression.

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Giving physical expression to the school’s values of social and environmental awareness, the design includes the adaptive reuse of an existing building as an arts facility, and the addition of a new athletics center that incorporates sustainable features integral to a student’s everyday experience.

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Stormwater from the large roof is directed to the entry loggia’s nine concrete columns that are notched to form open downspouts and visibly lead the water into a rain garden and underground cistern.

The stormwater systems can store up to 18,000 gallons of water, keeping stormwater from overwhelming the city’s drainage system in frequent downpours.

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Broad overhangs and balconies provide shade and shelter from New Orleans’ subtropical climate, while a screened breezeway connects the two buildings and serves as an outdoor classroom. A covered screened bridge spans over a city street to link the new complex to the main campus block.

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Client
Academy of the Sacred Heart
Year
2011
Project Area
37,755 sf