School of Architecture at Tulane University in New Orleans is preparing for major renovations

The building that houses Tulane University's School of Architecture in New Orleans, La.,  will soon undergo major renovations. 

Richardson Memorial Hall was built in 1908 for the Tulane School of Medicine and has housed the School of Architecture since 1968, the university says in a news release. 

The goals of the renovation are to enhance the existing studio, classroom and office spaces; to bring the building up to code; and to provide essential teaching spaces. Construction will serve as a teaching tool and pedagogical resource for students.  

The additional space will add more stairs and elevators, increase the number of bathrooms, provide more space for reviews and exhibitions, and relocate faculty and staff offices. The renovation will also centralize the school’s fabrication labs, integrating analog fabrication (wood, metal, and concrete) and digital fabrication (2D and 3D printing, laser cutters, and robotics).

The renovation will provide an updated and modern interior with space dedicated for students and faculty to collaborate, along with faculty offices, meeting spaces, student reviews, seminar rooms and gallery space.

The university has designed the renovations with a goal of achieving LEED Silver certification.

In preparation for the construction, the School of Architecture has moved to temporary spaces this past summer. The school’s studios — architecture, design, real estate, historic preservation and research — are housed in four temporary pavilions on the Newcomb Quad.

Renovations will begin in spring 2022 and the building will reopen fully to students in fall 2023. 

The architect is Trapolin-Peer Architects