Primary Workspace

Gretna, Louisiana

Historic Roots, Modern Purpose: Reimagining Gretna's Iconic Primary School

Photography by Michael Mantese

More photos coming soon…

The historic city of Gretna, just across the river from Uptown New Orleans on the west bank of the Mississippi River, is a unique gem as Louisiana river towns go.  As the site of a popular music festival and a well-preserved historic downtown that gives Hill Valley vibes, it is growing in popularity as a place to live, work, and play for the greater New Orleans metro area.  The Gretna Primary School sits prominently in the median of Huey P Long Avenue in Downtown Gretna, at the transition point between the historic Mechanikham residential neighborhood and historic downtown Gretna.

The Italian Revival building, located within the Gretna Cultural District and Gretna National Register Historic District, was constructed between 1910 and 1911, and designed by Stevens and Nelson Architects.  It served as the city’s primary school from its construction until 1945, after which point it had many different lives as home to the Parish Welfare Department, the Red Cross – when it was used to teach trade skills to men and women during WWII – and finally as the Jefferson Parish School Board offices.

Its interior layout is centered around a two-story auditorium space directly accessed from the entrance on the second floor of the building.  All that remained of the grand space was two-thirds of the plaster proscenium arch hanging precariously from the attic joists in the large space.  The interior design of the project is centered around recreating this space as a center of activity, rebuilding the historic arch and stage elements and using them as a centerpiece of a common amenity space capable of hosting events.

Spanning lengthwise through the building are large, historic corridors, bathed in sunlight from grand double-hung windows, all of which were restored as a part of the project.  Private offices, conference and meeting rooms, mail rooms, and phone booths are situated in the center of the floor plan, accessed off the historic corridors, which themselves are so large that they host a series of small hot desks and meeting tables that will animate the space.

The historic second floor entrance, now adorned with black-and-white checkered marble tile, leads to a grand split staircase that connects the two historic corridors.  Guests will arrive on this central axis and check-in at a small reception area built into one of the original transomed openings, with restored ornamental casing and carpentry work.  Accessed through a similar cased opening, the featured commons area in the old auditorium space features walnut millwork to create a warm and sophisticated environment.  Private booths designed to create more intimate meeting and work spaces are tucked under the mezzanine.  The recreated curved stage is lined with a curved cushioned banquette dotted with hot desks for floating-desk members.  Acoustic baffles on the ceiling in a starburst pattern bring visual interest, light, and a softer sound to the grand space.  Existing heart pine flooring was retained as much as possible, though water damage and past renovations had claimed a large portion of it.  Good flooring was reused in the showcase spaces and other areas where flooring could not be reused, Golvabia engineered wood flooring in a walnut finish was installed.

Within the interior motifs, subtle Art Deco nods were scattered throughout the project in a nod to the building’s greatest period of significance.  Deep hues of blues and greens were used to create an exciting space that suggests an element of serenity, confidence and authority.

The funding for the building’s reuse was partially accomplished with Louisiana State Historic Tax Credits, and the design team worked closely with the state Historic Preservation Office to ensure the interventions met the Secretary of Interior’s Guidelines for Historic Preservation.  This involves a three-part approval process, which was led by Southkick Rolf Preservation Works.  The project was also subject to the City of Gretna’s Historic District Commission.