School hit hard by Hurricane Katrina gets new performing arts center
by Jonathan McGaha | May 5, 2011 12:00 am
Serving both the community and the schools, the St. Bernard Parish School District’s new Cultural Arts Center in Chalmette, La., opened on March 18, 2011. The project goal was to create a multipurpose building and performing arts theater with 400 seats, including a fly loft and orchestra pit. There is also a 120-seat technology auditorium, music and dance practice spaces, meeting rooms and classrooms. A key component is the library downstairs, with the school library directly above.
St. Bernard Parish, which was hit especially hard by Hurricane Katrina, lost 22 buildings and the Chalmette School District was the only one that was completely destroyed. While the school district miraculously opened 11 weeks after the storm, the cultural arts program just now has a facility worth of St. Bernard Parish’s perseverance, strength and creativity.
Waggonner & Ball Architects, New Orleans, was chosen for the project with David Waggonner the principal in charge. Project Architect Brian Swanner explains, “The site of the building is half a city block. We wanted to create an inspirational building that announced the recovery of the community and signaled the creativity of the students and educators. The building takes the form of a snaking bar that adapts to the limited site and cradles the curved main theatre volume along its edge. That tall volume is clad in metal panels that accommodate its curving walls. [Allison Park, Pa.-based] Contrarian Metal Resources’ InvariMatte was chosen because of the high quality and matching of the product. It was recommended by professionals familiar with its properties and the details of service provided to ensure top results. The working relationships on the project surpassed the norm, with the right quantities of InvariMatte being shipped as requested at the right time.”
The complexity of the design-its saw-toothed and lapped metal panels-required top skills, and fabricator Overly Manufacturing Co., Greensburg, Pa., did an outstanding job working through the details.
The general contractor, Baton Rouge-based MAPP Construction, led the way with exceptional exchange of information to all parties involved. Distributor, GM Horne, Jackson, Miss., staggered delivery so that supplies arrived as needed. MAPP worked with Mandeville, La.-based E.R. Barnes LLC to complete the installation as directed.
The stainless steel for the windows was supplied by Pohl Inc. of America, West Valley City, Utah. They put the drawings into a 3-D model and built a box to determine the best way to install the windows.
Contrarian Metal Resources, www.metalresources.net, Circle
#49
Pohl Inc. of America, www.pohlusa.com, Circle #50
Source URL: https://www.metalarchitecture.com/projects/school-hit-hard-by-hurricane-katrina-gets-new-performing-arts-center/