Student Work (2002): Crosby Arboretum Visitor's Center

I wanted to post another one of my favorite student projects: the Crosby Arboretum. This multipurpose center included an educational center, gift shop, administration offices & restrooms. This is one of my favorite projects because of the natural environment surrounding the purposed structure. My project opens up & provides views to Fay Jone's Pinecote Pavillion.

My concept was to represent the vernacular style of the region using treated cypress as the siding & untreated hardwood for the exterior shades. I also designed large glu-lam beams that spanned from each building to create a forced perspective to the Fay Jones Pavilion.  Between the each wing of the building is a wood clad plaza area used as a meeting place before performances and lectures at the Pavilion. The center sits on pilings above the ground. This and the shape of the building assist in utilizing natural cooling systems. 

Some of the influences I had for this project are as seen below:

The Lake Flato Hilltop Arboretum in Baton Rouge. When I studied at LSU, I visited this Arboretum often. It's executed perfectly. It identifies with the natural environment of southern Louisiana which weighed heavy on my choice of materials when designing the Crosby Arboretum.

Another influence I had was the Stephen Atkinson Dog Trot House in Zachary, Louisiana seen below. This house is another example of translating the vernacular style architecture of southern Louisiana.