Florida Parishes Agricultural Events Center

The Agricultural Event Center in Amite Louisiana is an addition to the existing Florida Parishes Arena originally designed by Holly & Smith Architects and completed in 2004. The event center allows the arena to host more formal events as well as presentations and seminars. A single sloped roof tilts up to reveal a ribbon of clerestory windows and curtain wall facing an outdoor deck/classroom and retention pond. Two cube-like forms are inserted into this northeast facade and frame the banquet hall’s view toward the pond. Within the cubes are restroom facilities as well as office and kitchen space. The space between the existing arena and the new event center serves as an outdoor pre-function area that can be used by merchants and vendors during arena events.

Southeastern Louisiana University: Memorial Fountain

The Southeastern Louisiana University memorial fountain is a tribute to the victims and to the citizens who responded in the wake of hurricanes Katrina and Rita that ravaged the Gulf Coast region. Southeastern Louisiana University played a large role in the recovery of the North Shore and the New Orleans region by providing higher education for displaced students after Katrina. ||When Southeastern reopened following Katrina on September 9, 2005, more than 1,500 students could not resume their studies, a figure that two years later stood at approximately 700. The university also enrolled more than 1,600 “guest” students from institutions displaced by the storms. University and SGA presidents from 10 of those universities were invited to attend the dedication ceremony on August 29, 2007, the second anniversary of Katrina.

In the heart of campus within the developing quadrangle, the memorial fountain features a raised profiled water jet granite carving of the Gulf Coast. The profile extends from Texas to Florida. Along the profiled coast, small holes quietly mark the landfall points of the two storms. Along the face of the memorial, carved in the base, is a list of States, Parishes, and Counties that were declared disaster areas due to the two storms.

In regular operation, the fountain’s pool provides a perpetual overflow sheet of water across the south face and the names of the devastated areas. At timed intervals, jets located at the two storm landing sites provide increased water flow to envelope the entire surface and overflow on all four sides. Once the event has receded, the stillness and subtlety of the coastline profile of highly reflective black granite sit with a ghostly foreboding reverence.

In addition to being a memorial, the fountain contributes to an ever-developing quadrangle at the heart of campus. It is centered on axis with the Fayard Hall passage, one of the more significant campus entries.

Keller Community Center

This project consists of a new building constructed as a multipurpose community center for the neighborhood. The building replaces an existing community center closed and in disrepair. The simple program consists of a multipurpose room with an attached concession kitchen capable of serving the main room and visitors approaching from the corridor. There is also a director’s office, men’s and women’s restrooms, and janitorial and mechanical spaces.

Columbia Theatre Marquee

After the Columbia Theatre renovation was complete, the owners commissioned H/S to design a new marquee sign for the historic structure. The marquee is mounted to the corner of the building for maximum visibility. On either side of the primary element, the blade sign, are programmable LED message boards that announce upcoming shows and events for the Columbia Theatre. The marquee sign has now become a well-recognized landmark within the historic downtown of Hammond, Louisiana, and a frequent subject for regional photographers.