Gasaway Gasaway Bankston Architects

STORY BETSY O’LEARY

PHOTOS JOHNNY CHAUVIN

Spring 2023 marks the 50th anniversary of downtown Hammond’s premier architectural firm, Gasaway Gasaway Bankston Architects. Back in 1973, Andrew Gasaway, Jr., hung out his architectural shingle as “Gossen Gasaway & Associates,” the first iteration of what would become various professional collaborations with peers, proteges, o�spring, and o�ce manager of 33 years, Tonya Busch.

Recently, Andrew Gasaway, Jr., son Bret Gasaway, and Chris Bankston got together to share their stories of how it all came together.

A random girl in a café next to the Crescent Bar linked Andrew to the man who would literally shape his life. She worked for famed Louisiana architect John Desmond, whose wife had taught Art to her best student, Andrew Gasaway.

Soon, Andrew was earning fifty cents an hour as a draftsman for John Desmond. Andrew and his wife, the former Jeannette Verburg, and their three-month old son, headed west to what’s now ULL where Andrew studied architecture. He was earning a dollar an hour when he transferred to Tulane on a full scholarship. Post-graduation, Andrew’s first job was with a Thibodaux architectural firm.

Back in Hammond with Gossen Gasaway, Andrew’s work included his award-winning design of the two-story Sunday school building at Grace Memorial Episcopal Church. His design of the D. C. Reeves School won national architectural awards and helped launch the firm as the go-to architects for school design.

But that was just one of their niche markets, as they also designed parish jails, fire stations, the Ponchatoula Community Center, Jacmel Inn, Brady’s, First Guaranty Bank, and many other iconic buildings here and around the state.

Bret jumped in to interject how his father, together with Paul Murphy and a few others inspired Hammond’s annual Hot August Night celebration. What began as a few guys cooking hot dogs and hamburgers on a grill outside the Crescent turned into one of the summer’s hottest hits.

They were also instrumental in creating and funding both the DDD and the Hammond Historic District by actively seeking grants for architectural restoration and building improvements.

Bret worked construction for Ragusa Brothers building the Pittman Matheny building across from the Hammond jail. There, he met his future wife, Grace Bennett Gasaway. She would go on to serve as City Judge across from the building Bret built until losing her battle with cancer in 2021.

Bret followed his father’s footsteps into architecture. His first major contribution was designing the “new” Hammond High School. He’s worked as lead architect or consultant on projects including downtown’s Central Progressive Bank, the NOMC’s Women’s Pavilion, Diagnostic Center, and NOMC’s Livingston Parish Medical Complex.

Just when Andrew was reducing his architectural presence, Chris Bankston was looking to grow his own. Thus, Gasaway Gasaway

Bankston Architects emerged.

Bankston’s background in school design in surrounding parishes was well-established. He took over the school board work Andrew previously did. His biggest school project to date is Live Oak High School – a 205,000 square-foot campus.

In addition to school designs, Bankston was heavily involved in recovery projects after Hurricanes Katrina and Ida. He is married to the former Pam Cali. They have a son, Brennan, 16, and are members of the Holy Ghost Catholic Church.

Andrew Gasaway started with a strong foundation, and together the partners have built a legacy. From the new FGB Center in downtown Hammond, to NOMC’s Livingston Parish Medical Complex in Satsuma, evidence of their commitment to quality craftmenship can be seen throughout the community.