Delgado’s new River City Campus is located on a 10.4 acre site in Avondale, a city historically known for ship building. The design for this new facility
was inspired by its context, including Delgado’s City Park campus, the Avondale shipyard, and the surrounding local architecture. Approaching the site,
you are greeted by an earth-toned, masonry façade that mimics the material palette found at the City Park campus. The large, covered entry element
greets visitors with a masonry arch, which is then translated into ornamental, structural arch trusses that sail through the entry lobby following
a similar rhythm to a ship’s ribbed framing. The ribs are the structure for the building, giving it shape and strength, similar to the frame of a ship.
The structure of this building is also emphasized through the exterior masonry pilasters and metal fins. The fins allow for the attachment of shading
devices where needed and will act as gutters that will guide roof water into the courtyard’s bio-swales. The rhythm is further emphasized through the
brick colonnade entry and the staggered paving throughout the courtyard. The material palette for the sides and rear facades are earth-toned masonry
and corrugated metal panels, further bringing light to the industrial program of this building. The new campus design promotes Delgado’s mission to
provide an environment centered on learning that will prepare students for their future.