(New Orleans – April 22, 2023) — Five of the 15 projects the Louisiana Landmarks Society honored for historic preservation projects in 2022 included two NOLA Public Schools (NOLA-PS) schools, two school auditoriums, and the School Facilities Master Plan.
"Preserving the history and the legacy of our schools for our scholars has always been an important part of the district's School Facilities Master Plan," said NOLA-PS Superintendent Dr. Avis Williams. "What the district in partnership with RSD has accomplished, via the plan, is truly phenomenal and we are proud of all the hard work over the years to rehabilitate our school buildings."
The projects included:
- Rose Mary Loving School (formerly Martin Behrman Elementary) 715 Opelousas Ave. The restored and enhanced 1931 building in Algiers has been returned to its status as a school facility. The restored bell tower, terra cotta halls and auditorium are complemented by a learning center and gymnasium. Team: Recovery School District; Waggoner & Ball; Landis Construction; Schrenk, Endom & Flanagan Consulting Engineers; GVA Engineering; Flick Engineering Professionals; Futch Design; Dana Brown & Associates; Jacobs/CSRS; C. Spencer Smith Architects; Stonehenge Capital; US Bank; New Orleans School Facility Finance Foundation; New Orleans Public Schools.
- Frederick J Douglass School Auditorium, 3820 St. Claude Ave. Closed since Katrina, The Art-Deco-inspired auditorium, closed since Katrina, features original fixtures and the undulating form of its ceiling, balcony, and stage. The space is an accessible facility with air conditioning and modern amenities. Team: New Orleans Public Schools (NOLA-PS); NANO Architecture | Interiors; NFT Group; CBRE | Heery Vanir; Manning Architects; Charbonnet Consultants, Inc.; Diane Killeen Painting Studios; MCA Engineers; Carubba Engineers; Lajuan Harris; C. Spencer Smith Architects.
- Leah L. Chase School (formerly Lafayette School), 2727 Carrollton Ave. Damage from Katrina closed the school for five years, with relocation for the next decade. The 71,643-square-foot building has been modernized, including 33 classrooms, activity rooms, library, kitchen and cafeteria, with exterior masonry repair and weatherproofing. Team: Recovery School District; New Orleans Public Schools; N-Y Associates; Gibbs Construction; Infinity Engineering Consultants; Moses Engineering; Jacobs/CSRS; Enhanced Capital; C. Spencer Smith Architects.
- Eleanor McMain Secondary School Auditorium, 5712 S. Claiborne Ave. For the auditorium of the 1932 Art Dec-style school, architectural elements including the stage, proscenium, doors, hardware, wood and iron seats, plaster detailing, corbels, ceiling tiles, windows, and light fixtures were repaired or replaced to match original elements. Team: New Orleans Public Schools; Concordia Architects; Tuna Construction; C. Spencer Smith Architects; Vivien Engineers; CBRE | Heery Vanir; Davis Drapery & Interiors, Inc.; Jouandot Electrical Services, Inc.; MainStage Theatrical Supply; New Orleans Iron Works; CMC Drywall, Inc.; Regional Mechanical Services; Priority Construction; Zimmer-Eschette Prostaff Solutions.
- Orleans Parish School Facilities Master Plan. In response to Katrina and long-term deferred maintenance, a plan was developed to guide the recovery process, a national model to address disaster recovery of educational facilities in cities like New Orleans. Team: New Orleans School Facility Finance Foundation; New Orleans Public Schools; US Bank; Stonehenge Capital; Enhanced Capital; C. Spencer Smith Architects; Recovery School District.
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About NOLA Public Schools: NOLA Public Schools (NOLA-PS) is the public school district for Orleans Parish. It includes the district's administration and elected school board, known as the Orleans Parish School Board (OPSB). NOLA-PS currently oversees 72 public schools and is led by Superintendent Dr. Avis Williams, the first woman in the District's 181 years to serve as its permanent superintendent.
For more information, visit www.nolapublicschools.com. For updates, follow NOLA Public Schools on Facebook @NOLAPublicSchools, Instagram @nolaps and Twitter @NOLAPSchools.