Shortly after
midnight on January 1, 1996, a fire started in a storage area at St. Mark
School in St. Bernard Parish. The
storage area was located between a classroom building and the administrative
offices. The fire quickly spread to the
adjacent structures. Both buildings were
heavily damaged before the fire was extinguished.
Broadmoor was engaged by the Archdiocese of New Orleans to
provide design-build services for the reconstruction of the classroom
building. A design-build approach was
utilized in order to deliver the completed structure for the opening of school
in August. Broadmoor provided complete
architectural services for the reconstruction of three classrooms on the
existing foundation. In addition to the
building design, a number of site-related handicapped accessibility issues were
addressed. Construction was completed within budget and on time for the opening
of school.
Broadmoor provided architectural and interior design
services for the reconstruction of Loredana Hall at St. Mark’s Church after
reconstructing their classroom building.
Working with the existing foundation and portions of the
remaining wood framing, Broadmoor expanded and enhanced the structure to suit
its new purpose. The front portion of the structure was redesigned to provide
office areas, a copy room, and break areas for the staff. Large windows were
incorporated wherever possible for natural light to create a feeling of
openness. In keeping with the function of the structure as administrative
offices, a new entrance was designed to give the structure more presence and
authority on the site.
The rear portion of the structure was given a cathedral
ceiling to be used as the school library. In order to support the library
portion of the structure, a central corridor for circulation was developed
through the center of the renovated space. Indirect lighting was bounced off of
the cathedral ceiling to provide glare-free lighting. Lighting is balanced with
large windows for natural light.
Owner: Archdiocese
of New Orleans
Architect: Broadmoor,
LLC
Contract Value: $787,087
Services: Design-Build
Contractor