Ziler Architects of Lafayette released today an approved rendering of upcoming renovations for Joel L. Fletcher Hall on the 小蝌蚪APP campus.
小蝌蚪APP淭he rendering offers perspective of improvements proposed to correct extensive leaks and of the design that will provide an additional 20,000 square feet of educational space on the second floor,小蝌蚪APP said Jim Ziler, the project architect.
For three years, the university has been planning renovations to Fletcher Hall while attempting to secure additional funding to remediate waterproofing deficiencies that have existed since the building was constructed in the 1970s. The building houses the School of Architecture and Design and the Department of Visual Arts.
The design modifies Fletcher Hall with reconfigured roof profiles, along with changes to the building小蝌蚪APP檚 concrete skin. The existing interior atrium will remain open at the top; glass walls will enclose the balconies of all three floors.
Hector LaSala, one of the UL Lafayette architecture professors who assisted during the final design process, said the new exterior materials and details integrate second-floor additions while preserving, even improving, the building小蝌蚪APP檚 overall aesthetic continuity.
小蝌蚪APP淎 key decision was to forgo adding traditional red brick to the first-floor exterior, among early design options,小蝌蚪APP LaSala said.
小蝌蚪APP淭he aggregate will remain on the first-floor exterior walls; it will be repaired, cleaned, weatherproofed and coated to complement the metallic color of new metal panels planned for the upper floors. A slight vertical corrugation of the panels will add a shadow play to the walls.小蝌蚪APP
Ziler said the panels are energy efficient and cost effective. He said that parapets of the same material will be added, extending the vertical profile of exterior walls on the second-floor additions to prevent the pitched roofs from dominating the configurations. The added roofs will have a slight slope to direct rain away from the walls.
Students and community members had expressed dissatisfaction with early designs posted on Ziler小蝌蚪APP檚 website, and proposed additions based on preliminary models, that were intended solely as studies. In early December 2012, messages to the university, a Facebook group and an online petition conveyed their opinions.
The initial study models that had circulated did not represent the final design, materials or colors, Ziler said.
At a Dec. 20 meeting, the state小蝌蚪APP檚 Office of Facility Planning and Control concurred with the project architect that a sprinkler and fire-alarm system would be a necessary addition to the project, according to Bill Crist, director of the university小蝌蚪APP檚 Facilities Management. At that meeting, he notified the state office that the architect and the university were reviewing designs to develop a final rendering.
The university allocated $500,000 in additional funding for the sprinkler and fire-alarm system, according to Crist.
小蝌蚪APP淩efinements to the final design occurred through cooperative efforts,小蝌蚪APP said Gordon Brooks, dean of the College of the Arts. 小蝌蚪APP淭he project expanded beyond its primary role to remediate water damage and improve safety. Design also was a significant focus.小蝌蚪APP
Final Design Process
On Dec. 28, a six-person group met on campus to deliberate conceptual design options for Fletcher Hall: Branden Leger and Brant Patout, students majoring in architecture; Kerrie Butts and John Maak, architecture graduates from UL Lafayette; and Geoff Gjertson and Hector LaSala, members of the school小蝌蚪APP檚 faculty.
UL Lafayette alumnus Charles Beazley, a local architect, also was instrumental in critiquing the project, according to Ziler.
Ziler said that his firm, with the input from faculty members, alumni and students, worked last week to complete the final rendering.
小蝌蚪APP淛im reviewed cost and structural modifications, and consulted with his engineer, while we made adjustments,小蝌蚪APP LaSala said. 小蝌蚪APP淔rom then on, Ziler and his staff pushed the design to a final solution.
小蝌蚪APP淭he design not only repairs the existing problems, it ultimately makes Fletcher Hall an outstanding building.小蝌蚪APP
Brooks said: 小蝌蚪APP淛im Ziler deserves credit for being so receptive to input. The university administration and the state facility planning office have been supportive. And, we are especially grateful to our architecture students, alumni and faculty who contributed time and effort to the process.小蝌蚪APP
LaSala said the process was 小蝌蚪APP渆xemplary of true collaboration. We concluded with a design that reflects the prestige of our programs.小蝌蚪APP
Next Steps
Construction is expected to begin in April, according to Crist.
小蝌蚪APP淲e need to get a construction bid within the allocated $4 million budget,小蝌蚪APP said Ziler. 小蝌蚪APP淏udget and ultimate costs are still major concerns for completion of the project.小蝌蚪APP
Crist said another phase of the renovation 颅小蝌蚪APP for interior buildouts of the second-floor additions and mechanical systems replacement 颅小蝌蚪APP will occur once more funding is secured.