AIA Baton Rouge announces Rose Awards

The Baton Rouge Chapter of the American Institute of Architects recently awarded their highest design award - the Rose Award - to two projects.

Chosen by the Baton Rouge AIA membership in a voting process, the Rose Awards are an acknowledgement by the winning architects' peers for outstanding work.

In addition to successfully fulfilling the functional goals of their clients, these award-winning projects are recognized through the Rose Award for design quality that enriches the lives of the building's users and the community in which the building resides.

Power House Renovation, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, Miss., by Tipton Associates of Baton Rouge. The original Power House was built in the heart of the University of Southern Mississippi's campus in 1934 to provide campus-wide heating.

Renovations removed the boiler and associated infrastructure to convert this building into a new 7,000-sq.-ft. sports-themed restaurant called the Power House accompanied by a New Orleans courtyard.

Approaching their 100-year anniversary, the University of Southern Mississippi focused on campus revitalization. Tipton Associates was retained to recreate campus establishments, with Power House as the crown of development.

The owners envisioned the restaurant and accompanying New Orleans-style courtyard as the campus sporting and cultural events hub, and desired the integrity of the old building to be preserved, while integrating a fresh modern feel and exciting dining atmosphere.

Tipton and Associates met this challenge realizing a unique design that has been described by students and users as "stunning."

Carver Library, Baton Rouge, by Remson, Haley, Herpin Architects of Baton Rouge. This new 12,081-sq.-ft. branch library is located on Terrace Street in the heart of an established Baton Rouge community. It was very important to the East Baton Rouge Parish Library Board that this new building is identifiable as a library and that it is embraced by the neighborhood.

Remson-Haley-Herpin Architects fulfilled these goals with a unique facility that fosters civic pride and encourage its use by the areas citizens.

USGBC chapter formed in Louisiana

The U.S. Green Building Council has opened its first chapter in Louisiana. The chapter was formed to promote the principles and concepts of green building practices and to assist the U.S. Green Building Council's national organization in the protection of the environment and the reduction of the consumption of resources.

Anyone interested in details about the chapter and how to join should contact Carroll Mathews at cmathew@lsu.edu.

Brown Builders expands to Baton Rouge

Brown Builders Inc., a Shreveport-Bossier City general contractor, is expanding to key Louisiana growth markets: Baton Rouge, New Orleans and southwest Louisiana.

Brown Builders has opened an office in Baton Rouge to aid in the rebuilding efforts of the storm-ravaged Gulf Coast.

Kay Pierson is managing the new Baton Rouge office and serves as Brown Builders' business development director.

Eastbound frontage road to open at I-10/Picardy

Relief is in sight for the Bluebonnet and Siegen areas of Baton Rouge. The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) announced the completion of a milestone in the I-10/Picardy project.

The eastbound frontage road running from Bluebonnet Boulevard to Siegen Lane was opened for traffic in August. This roadway is the first step to be completed in the I-10/Picardy project.

When the entire project is completed there will be two, one-way frontage roads running east and west along I-10 between Bluebonnet Boulevard and Siegen Lane, the Picardy overpass and the widening and reconstruction of I-10 between these two roads.

This project broke ground in April 2004 and is scheduled to finish in December.

The contractor for the project is James Construction Group LLC of Baton Rouge. The project is being funded with federal, state and local money.

Construction on the westbound frontage road and the Picardy overpass continues.

E. L. Habetz Builders awarded Grand Opera House of the South project

E. L. Habetz Builders Inc. of Crowley, La., has been awarded a $2.9 million contract to begin Phase 1 of the restoration of the Grand Opera House of the South, a 22,000-sq.-ft., century-old opera house atop the Dixie Hardware store in Crowley.

Phase 1 involves the restoration of the theatre part of the opera house. Work activities include interior architectural renovations, structural rehabilitation of the stage area, complete replacement of mechanical and electrical systems, and installation of fire sprinkler systems. Construction began in September and is scheduled to be complete in July 2007.

"E. L. Habetz Builders has completed several successful restoration projects and is pleased to be a part of the renovation of this historic building," said ELH President Edmund Habetz.

The project is funded in part from state and federal grants, and from private donors. Architect for the project is Donald J. Breaux Architect, civil engineer is Huval and Associates and mechanical engineer is Associated Design Group, all of Lafayette, La.

DOTD inducts two into Hall of Honor

Former Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) Deputy Secretary Blaise Carriere was inducted posthumously into the Louisiana Highways and Transportation Hall of Honor. Also inducted was former Louisiana Division Administrator for the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Morris Reinhardt.

A ceremony was held at the DOTD headquarters building recently honoring Carriere and Reinhardt. Guest speakers included Louisiana Good Roads and Transportation Association President W.P. Wray, Vice-President W.T. Taylor Jr. and Gordon Nelson, DOTD assistant secretary of operations. Neil Wagoner, former DOTD secretary, introduced Marilyn Carriere, the wife of Blaise Carriere. Tony Sussman, former division administrator of FHWA, introduced Reinhardt.

Carriere began his professional career as a bridge design engineer with the Louisiana Highway Department, the precursor to today's DOTD. He joined the New Orleans Streets Department in 1969 as deputy director and was named its director in December 1970. He left in May 1982 to join the engineering firm Howard, Needles, Tammen and Bergendoff, now known as HNTB.

He returned to state employment in 2000 as deputy secretary of DOTD. He was named assistant to the secretary for policy in 2004 and became special projects assistant in 2005.

He passed away in March.

Reinhardt served as the Louisiana division administrator for the FHWA in the 1970s during a period of great improvement for Louisiana's federal-aid highway system. He provided the federal approval for the building of Interstates 310 and 220. His work also resulted in Interstate 49 connecting north and south Louisiana and Interstate 55 modifications that provided Louisiana with mobility, economic development opportunities and emergency evacuation planning into the 21st century. >>

Libbey Glass opens distribution center in Shreveport

General contractor Bob Moore Construction Co. has completed a new 646,000-sq.-ft. distribution center in Shreveport, La., for tenant Libbey Glass and developer First Industrial Realty Trust. The new distribution center is 646,000 sq. ft. and is expandable to 1 million sq. ft.

The new distribution center consolidates services previously provided by six buildings. It will service the southeast and lower mid-western states, along with the company's export business south of the U.S. and into Europe.

Office space comprises 10,000 sq. ft. of the building; the remaining space houses product racks and 59 shipping bays.

"We needed a larger capacity facility under one roof," said Don Pendergrass, Shreveport logistics manager for Libbey Glass.

Johnson Controls acquires Berg

Mechanical contractor Berg Inc. of Shreveport has been acquired by Johnson Controls Inc., a global company.

Berg provides heating, ventilation, air conditioning and plumbing services for commercial and industrial customers in Louisiana, east Texas and southern Arkansas. The company currently has 231 employees.