PROJECT
exteriors
Part of a campus-wide renovation, plans for Monroe Hall included a new façade to reconfigure the windows and allow the massive building to appear similar to other campus structures.
Brick System Revitalizes University Building Pressure-equalized brick rainscreen wall system ensures weather tightness and energy efficiency.
T
he J. Edgar Monroe Memorial Science Build-
with a new façade to reconfigure the windows and allow
the attention of the owners by Randall Rush of Rush
ing at Loyola Univ., New Orleans, was the
the massive building to appear similar to other campus
Masonry, New Orleans. Positive attributes, including
largest classroom facility on campus when
structures. To accomplish this goal, the original plans for
the system’s appearance and performance features,
constructed in 1969. At the time, the Post-Modern
renovation called for a new high-performance façade with
were considered prior to the decision to substitute the
fiberglass façade was seen as a symbol of the future.
a terra-cotta panel system that would stand up to the high
cladding system for the terra-cotta façade. “Traditional
Over the years, it has become less a symbol of mod-
humidity and harsh climate events common to New Or-
brick wasn’t a possibility,” said Rush, “Monroe Hall
ern-day science and more the oddity on campus—not
leans. When costs came in over budget, the university
wasn’t designed for full masonry weight. The cladding
quite blending with the more traditional brick build-
looked for an alternative.
system was less than half the weight of conventional
ings around the main courtyard. Aside from its pale exterior and porthole-shaped windows, Monroe Hall
masonry.” POSITIVE ATTRIBUTES
According to Gregory P. Lusignan, vice president of
also lacked the energy-efficiency and high-perfor-
The owners hoped to find a façade that would incor-
Broadmoor LLC, Metairie, LA, general contractor for the
mance features that are part of more contemporary
porate not only the performance expected with the ter-
Monroe Hall project, “The whole project was over budget.
construction.
ra-cotta system, but also yield an attractive, traditional
We had to value-engineer, and Corium allowed us to save
appearance, consistent with traditional brick masonry.
a substantial amount of money. It also ended up pretty
Part of a campus-wide renovation, plans for Monroe Hall included adding 114,000 sq. ft. to the building, along 36
COMMERCI A L BUIL DING P RODUC T S
JUNE 2015
cbpmagazine.com
A Corium brick rainscreen system was brought to
closely matched to existing brick facades around the cam-
