Shigeru Ban to present keynote speech at AIA Louisiana conference

World renowned architect Shigeru Ban will be the keynote speaker at the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Louisiana Design Conference at the Lafayette Cajundome. The conference is scheduled for Sept. 12-15.

The theme of the conference is RR Crossing: (Re)building Responsibly. It will focus on sustainability. Ban will speak at 1:30 p.m. on Sept. 13. One of the most humanitarian and sustainable architects in the world, Ban was educated at the Southern California Institute of Architecture and at Cooper Union. His practice is located in Tokyo and Paris, and he has taught at Yokohama University, Nihon University, Columbia University and most recently at Keio University.

Ban received the Thomas Jefferson Medal, the Grand Medaille d¹Or from the Academie d¹Architecture and became an honorary fellow of the AIA in 2005.

Construction of state emergency shelter underway

Construction of the first state emergency shelter began in July. The project is located on LSU AgCenter property adjacent to LSU-Alexandria, La. The facility was designed by the joint venture Remson-Haley-Herpin Architects and Merrick & Co.

The $25 million, 210,000-sq-ft facility will primarily serve as a temporary emergency shelter for evacuees for emergency situations, particularly those with special needs. 

Ratcliff Construction Co. of Alexandria, La., is the general contractor. The facility is scheduled for completion by mid-August 2008.

Extra investment yields big road project for Broussard, La.

A $10 million investment will pay big dividends for Broussard, La. A major road project will be delivered ahead of schedule at a savings of millions of dollars.

The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) announced recently that Broussard’s $10 million in matching funds will expedite the extension of Ambassador Caffery Boulevard from Verot School Road to the Evangeline Thruway south of Broussard.

The money comes from the City of Broussard Sales Tax Bond, Series 2007, which was approved by the Louisiana State Bond Commission and the Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget.

Broussard was not required to put up a match, but Broussard Mayor Charles Langlinais and other city leaders decided to invest local dollars in the project to get it moving quickly.

“This cooperation is a great example of state and local governments working together to save taxpayers money,” DOTD Secretary Johnny B. Bradberry says. “I hope other cities and parishes take note of what Broussard has done, because this money also allows DOTD to start and finish the project sooner.”

Because of the strain on DOTD’s current capacity funding, a project of this cost and size normally would have to be bid in multiple phases. Each phase requires a bid letting process, and there can be multiple years between each bid letting. The longer a project takes to complete, the more susceptible it is to the rising cost of materials and labor.

The $43.8 million, 6.5-mi project is a joint effort between DOTD, the city of Broussard and the Federal Highway Administration. The contractor for the project is Gilchrist Construction Co. of Alexandria.

Baton Rouge firm receives national honors

Baton Rouge-based architectural firm Tipton Associates has been recognized nationally for its design of The University of Southern Mississippi’s Power House restaurant.  The 2007 Best Concept Award for Best New Facility from Food Management magazine was featured in its July issue with awards to be presented at the IDEAS Conference Oct. 30-Nov. 1 at the Red Rock Hotel and Resort in Las Vegas.

The project was a collaborative effort between architects Tipton Associates, ARAMARK Corp. and the University of Southern Mississippi.

Originally the campus power house, the facility was built in 1934 to house the boiler and other infrastructure to provide heating for the University of Southern Mississippi. Sited in the heart of campus, this building remained abandoned until construction began in May 2005 to convert the building into a new, sports-themed restaurant called the Power House, which caters to students, faculty and alumni. 

GeoEngineers purchases Capozzoli and Associates

GeoEngineers has purchased Louis J. Capozzoli and Associates Inc. of Baton Rouge, La., for an undisclosed price.

Redmond, Wash.-based GeoEngineers Inc. is the No. 11 largest engineering firm in the Puget Sound area with $29.5 million in 2006 local revenue, according to Puget Sound Business Journal research.

Louis J. Capozzoli and Associates specializes in energy, transportation, development, federal and water and natural resource engineering. It becomes GeoEngineers’ 16th office.