Louisiana State Museum and Sports Hall of Fame by Trahan Architects

Trahan Architects designed the Louisiana State Museum and Sports Hall of Fame in Natchitoches, Louisiana, USA, managing to combine cutting edge technology with local tradition and with its grassroots culture.



An iconic building that by no means goes unnoticed in a small town like Natchitoches, the oldest settlement in French Louisiana dating back to 1714, with a town centre that still preserves its European-style brick and stucco buildings.





Despite the innovative materials and techniques used by New Orleans-based Trahan Architects, the project does not attempt to show off to the outside world. This is certainly true of the building’s rectangular frontage, clad in thin copper louvers that jut out and echo the timber balconies and porches of the traditional houses. The metal screen protecting the other three facades of the building hides the openings that bring light into the interior.





As soon as you step across the threshold, you are drawn into the museum’s fluid, vibrant spaces, a clear reference to the sports that it is showcasing, but also to the power of water and the extent to which it shapes the territory of Louisiana.



The design geometries guide visitor circulation and gallery arrangement. Artificial stones cover the walls and floors like a huge puzzle, adding yet another knockout factor to the visitor’s sensorial experience.



The museum administration brief was for a museum concept that would act as a beacon in one of the poorest parts of the US, where sport is seen as a chance to shine and an occasion for socialising. A truly unique building that aims to attract the local community to other cultural experiences, drawing them in through their passion for sport.

PROJECT CREDITS:
Project: Louisiana State Museum and Sports Hall of Fame
Location: Natchitoches, Louisiana
Client/Owner: State of Louisiana, Office of Facility, Planning & Control
Architect:
Trahan Architects http://trahanarchitects.com
Key Personnel: Victor F. “Trey” Trahan, III FAIA – President/Design Principal, Brad McWhirter AIA - Project Architect, Ed Gaskin AIA – Designer, Mark Hash – Designer, Michael McCune AIA - Designer
Project Team: Sean David, Blake Fisher, Erik Herrmann, David Merlin, Benjamin Rath, Judson Terry
Interior Designer: Lauren Bombet Interiors
Mechanical / Electrical / Plumbing / Fire Protection Engineer: Associated Design Group
Structural Engineer: LBYD
Civil Engineer: CSRS
Geotechnical Engineer: GeoConsultants
General Contractor: VCC
Landscape Architect: Reed Hilderbrand Associates
Any other consultants, with their roles:
BIM Manager and Technology: Case
Cast Stone Support Steel Geometry and Detailing: Method Design
Cast Stone Support Steel Engineer: David Kufferman PE
Acoustics: SH Acoustics
Waterproofing: Water Management Consultants & Testing, Inc.
Size in m2: 2.601 m2