a program of the Tulane School of Architecture
[dean’s statement] In a few short years, URBANbuild has established itself as a positive and compelling component of the Tulane School of Architecture and functions as a powerful agent of change within the city of New Orleans. This design/build program affords unusual opportunities for our students. Under the leadership of Professor of Practice Byron Mouton AIA and with the active involvement of others on the faculty and staff at the school, URBANbuild is making a profound difference in the lives of our “clients” and with our students. Their track record of success will continue to evolve in the coming years. The local and national attention they have received is well-deserved, exemplifying Tulane University’s commitment to public service at many levels. Recent URBANbuild houses have been recognized by the local chapter of the American Institute of Architects and honored with various awards. It is unusual for academic projects to receive awards such as these since they are typically provided in recognition of professional endeavors. These accomplishments recognize the program’s characteristic of merging both the professional and research agenda of our school.
Kenneth Schwartz, FAIA Favrot Professor and Dean Tulane School of Architecture
a program of the Tulane School of Architecture
[history]
In the summer of 2005 a small group of students and faculty developed a design/ build program that would address the deteriorating neighborhoods of urban New Orleans. The URBANbuild program was generated to provide students with a platform to work collectively on the design, development and construction of affordable housing prototypes. The goal was to provide struggling neighborhoods with some sense of progress and value. In August of 2005, New Orleans was struck by a storm that was anticipated but never really expected. The city was left 80% damaged, the population was immediately reduced by one third, and the occupants of the city’s most underprivileged areas struggled to return with a compromised civic, economic and social foundation. Rebuilding became not only a critical task but an imperative one. The URBANbuild program was immediately challenged to explicitly address the imminent threat of water and the changing social demographics of a surviving city. URBANbuild has evolved as a post-Katrina program that addresses and investigates pre-Katrina problems. It relies upon a comprehensive understanding of New Orleans as a city struggling to redefine itself. The program challenges student designers to both respect and question the architectural history of New Orleans, respond to the failures of Katrina, and provide an opportunity to redefine a contemporary vernacular. URBANbuild is a program of optimism and investment.
[prototype locator]
[prototype] 6
1821 toledano street
[prototype] 5
1800 deslonde street
[prototype] 4
2036 seventh street
[prototype] 3
1900 seventh street
[prototype] 2
2856 dryades street
[prototype] 1
1930 dumaine street
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[TSA]
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[mobile goat unit] a [bayou bienvenue] b
a program of the Tulane School of Architecture
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[prototype inventory]
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[prototype] 6
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[prototype] 5
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[schematic prototype] A
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[schematic prototype] E
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[schematic prototype] L
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[schematic prototype] P
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[schematic prototype] Q
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[schematic prototype] V
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[schematic prototype] Y
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[schematic prototype] JJ
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[schematic prototype] MM
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[schematic prototype] RR
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[schematic prototype] SS
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[bayou bienvenue]
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[mobile goat unit]
[prototype 06] Prototype 06 is designed for placement on a common infill lot of the city. The scheme responds to the dense urban fabric of the neighborhood through the development of a generous front porch and a rear porch. However, this strategy also introduces a side courtyard that invites natural light and provides immediate access to ‘contained’ green space. Living, eating, and sleeping spaces are divided into three distinct volumes clustered around this garden. The front and rear covered porches act as extensions of the interior space and provide for ample cross ventilation. The collection and careful deposit of water to three specific locations presents opportunity for garden maintenance.
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a program of the Tulane School of Architecture
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[prototype 06] [site]
1821 toledano st.
[completed] 2011 [partner] neighborhood housing services [team] Joshua Avist, Nick Bouyelas, Sam Coles, Matt DeCotiis, Jerome Gelin, Daniel Glynn, Scott Heath, Dixon Jelich, Lindsay Johnson, Ali Kass, Mike Landry , Emile LeJeune, Drew Mazur, Oren Mitzner, Jun Park, Kate Peaden, Robby Pekara, Allison Powell, Erin Vaugh, Karrah Villa
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a program of the Tulane School of Architecture
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[prototype 05] Prototype 05 represented the program’s first foray into the devastated area of the Lower 9th Ward. Through collaboration with the Make It Right Foundation, the project presented a unique opportunity for the URBANbuild program to engage issues of blight and community rehabilitation. The original duplex scheme was established in an effort to raise a portion of the home in anticipation of the threat of flood. A smaller portion of the home was developed in closer proximity to the ground to maintain the home’s connection to the community. The home has been constructed in compliance with the sustainable goals of “Cradle to Cradle’ philosophies.
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a program of the Tulane School of Architecture
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[prototype] 05
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[collabrative prototype 05] [site]
1800 deslonde street
[completed] 2010 [partner] bild design, make it right [team] scott berger, tj bogan, ana borja, mollie burke, scott burroughs, laura casaccio, daniel csank, nicolas dubois, camille dupont, meghan dyer, christopher frederic, abraham hakim, chris jackson, paul jarboe, alissa kingsley, clara lamerre, jason liu, eva lynch, teresa muniz, john paul pacelli, emily sperber, chelsea williams, alexandra wirthlin
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a program of the Tulane School of Architecture
[prototype] 05
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[prototype 04] The fourth completed prototype explores the relationship of public and private spaces in connection to the streetscape. With a focus on sustainability, prototype 04 reached LEED Silver Certification. The house takes advantage of its corner lot through fenestration and porches, generating an engagement of the house within the neighborhood while simultaneously providing privacy for the homeowner. The polycarbonate screening system creates the opportunity for an adjustable transparency of the facade in relation to desired lighting and visual connection to the street.
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a program of the Tulane School of Architecture
[1]
[prototype] 04
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[prototype 04] [site]
2036 seventh street
[completed] 2009 [partner]
neighborhood housing services
[team] robert baddour, amanda brendle, ben flatau, monica breziner, nicholas cecchi, katie champagne, nick chan, chad cramer, susan n. danielson, shannon farrell, matt fox, kevin garfield, lauren goetz, royce evan gracey, corey green, meaghan hartney, matthew hostetler, colm m. kennedy, joseph keppel, peter kilgust, nicolas mallet, lauren martino, suzanne monaco, emily orgeron, jp pacelli, marian prado, marie richard, gregor schuller, kevin tully, karla valdivia, colin vanwingen, bliss young
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a program of the Tulane School of Architecture
[prototype] 04
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[prototype 03] Situated on a corner lot, prototype 03 engages the streetscape with adaptable public spaces on the ground floor and private spaces raised and shielded from the street. The folding of a corrugated metal plane unifies upper and lower levels, creates definition for public and private zones, and responds to contextual massing. The house is constructed of Structural Insulated Panels (SIPS), continuing a focus on the educational exploration of leading architectural technologies. The home was honored with a 2009 AIA Award of Merit, and the design and construction process was filmed by the Sundance Channel for its critically acclaimed series “Architecture School.�
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a program of the Tulane School of Architecture
[1]
[2]
[prototype] 03
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[prototype 03] [site]
1900 seventh street
[completed] 2008 [partner]
neighborhood housing services
[team] christina alvarado-suarez, adriana camacho, ian daniels, amarit dulyapaibul, nik haak, chris halbrooks, cassandra howard,kimberly lewis, caroline lossack, alex mangimelli, nicole magnellia, eric mcclam, scott mucci, casey roccanova, amanda rosen, carter scott, steve smith, lori storm
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a program of the Tulane School of Architecture
[prototype] 03
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[prototype 02] Prototype 02 is a modern variation of the historic camelback housing typology seen throughout New Orleans. The design studio for this project was focused on compact space planning for substandard lots. The form is generated by two folded metal roof planes which contain the living spaces while defining exterior conditions of entry and porch. Built with prefabricated steel wall panels, prototype 02 provided research opportunities with new building technologies and assembly processes.
Section Perspective
URBANbuild Target Areas 2 I 3 I 4 BERMAN LEWIS EL KHAFIF MOUTON
Design Studio 2006 Tulane School of Architecture In partnership with the Tulane City Center and CITYbuild
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a program of the Tulane School of Architecture
Tulane
URBANbuild
[1]
[2]
[prototype] 02
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[prototype 02] [site]
2856 dryades street
[completed] 2007 [partner]
neighborhood housing services
[team] emily brudenell, vincent cangiamilla, victoria hernandez, greg hayslett, emily levings, kristyn cosgrove, jordan gargas, tyler hutcherson, charles lucia, trevor meeks, david merlin, craig parker, matt shaver, kristine shull, diana steig, francisco tirado, sam vasquez, ben wasserman, jesse zryb
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a program of the Tulane School of Architecture
[prototype] 02
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[protoype 01] The first completed prototype was developed and constructed in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. In response to the tragedy, the studio focused on the development of architectural responses that might reconstruct both the physical and cultural fabric of affected neighborhoods. The streamlined plan creates a multitude of efficient and flexible indoor and adjacent outdoor spaces. A generous front porch and unique shutter system reinforce a common quality of the typical New Orleans home, facilitating engagement between both activities of the home and activities of the street.
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a program of the Tulane School of Architecture
[1]
[prototype] 01
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[prototype 01] [site]
1930 dumaine street
[completed] 2006 [partner]
neighborhood housing services
[team] jared bowers, ned brown, claire cahan, nick crowley, robert deacon, david demsey, mark enlow, jason heinze, tyler hutcherson, matt hux, maggie joyce, nicole mcglinn, andrea patrick, jonathon reyes carlos sanchez, heather skeehan, emilie taylor, steve thesman, ben wasserman, seth welty, daniel zangara
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a program of the Tulane School of Architecture
[prototype] 01
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[schematic prototype A] Generated directly after Katrina, this proposal was developed with substandard lot dimensions in mind so the scheme could fit multiple sites. This control generated a compact, vertical scheme. Circulation is minimized and spaces are flexible - outdoor spaces are intended for future finishing in order to facilitate expansion. Covered outdoor spaces are emphasized in the front and rear of the scheme. A secondary louvered skin unifies the massing of the home and eases the stresses of local climatic pressures.
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a program of the Tulane School of Architecture
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[schematic prototype] A
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[schematic prototype E] The exploration of prefabricated construction techniques led to a scheme utilizing a combination of prefabricated modules and steel framing members to achieve a flexible prototype suitable for multiple locations. The modules are programmed with wet plumbing edges, which allow the bathrooms and kitchens to be plugged in externally or internally. They are wrapped by a screen composed of steel framing and a system of 4 x 8 solid, translucent, or transparent panels that unify the massing strategy and generate a degree of customization linked to client desires and site specificity.
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a program of the Tulane School of Architecture
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[schematic prototype] E
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[schematic prototype H] Urban ramifications of prefabricated modular housing are the main considerations of this scheme. Living modules are designed for the maximum size of shipping without the need for wide load escort. The modules are constructed of Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) that allow for rough openings to be cut on site in response to desired contextual connections. The small footprint of the project allows ample opportunity for the productive programming of the ground plane, and lends itself to dense rebuilding projects such as government subsidized housing.
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a program of the Tulane School of Architecture
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[schematic prototype] H
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[schematic prototype L] This scheme examines the relationship between public and private spaces on a substandard lot. A screen composed of translucent panels and small punched openings helps to segregate private and public space from its contextual surroundings while admitting light. The tight organization of the plan allows multiple entry strategies as well as generous private and public outdoor zones in a compact footprint.
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a program of the Tulane School of Architecture
[1]
[2]
[schematic prototype] L
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[schematic prototype P] A variation on the classic New Orleans camel back shotgun, schematic prototype 03P utilizes its massing to meet the streetscape with a generous front porch. The prototype features generous amounts of glazing screened with a louvre system. The program is streamlined into an economical lower level with an expansive master suite and deck on the upper level.
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a program of the Tulane School of Architecture
[1]
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[schematic prototype] P
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[schematic prototype Q] Prototype Q is a multi-unit scheme containing a three bedroom apartment and a studio apartment. It utilizes a system of regularized components to create an inherently flexible and dynamic facade. Panelized screens on tracks generate a simple shading and privacy strategy while allowing occupants to adjust and customize the exterior based on interior comforts.
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a program of the Tulane School of Architecture
[1]
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[schematic prototype] Q
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[schematic prototype V] Schematic prototype 04V is organized into two distinct public and private programmatic zones. Exterior finishes, massing and interior ceiling heights are coordinated to enable the reading of this dichotomy from both exterior and interior perspectives. The project features a distinct semi private buffer zone centrally located in plan. This zone is defined by its large operable doors which create a malleable and dynamic space available for continual modification by the residents.
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a program of the Tulane School of Architecture
[1]
[schematic prototype] V
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[schematic prototype Y] As a modernization of the typical New Orleans shotgun home, this scheme tackles some of the primary flaws of the housing staple. The program is redistributed to maintain a distinct separation between public and private zones. This prototype utilizes a wrapping porch system and a linear multipurpose/kitchen space in order to create clear circulation patterns. Schematic prototype Y04 also investigates built in cabinetry and surface construction with a band that runs from the front to the rear of the structure.
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a program of the Tulane School of Architecture
[1]
[schematic prototype] Y
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[schematic prototype JJ] Prototype JJ is a split section house, arranged around a central courtyard. The scheme has a private and public attititude. The majority of the program is elevated, providing separation from the damp earth as well as covered, off-street parking. The split-level scheme merges the raised program with the ground; living spaces spill out into the family courtyard toward the street.
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a program of the Tulane School of Architecture
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[schematic prototype MM] Two street facing porches in this scheme suggest a primary and secondary connection to the street. Cantilevered structure provides covered outdoor spaces; these spaces act as extension of indoor space, linking the front of the site to the rear of the site. The cladding scheme suggests an operable vertical louvre system for sun control and hurricane protection.
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a program of the Tulane School of Architecture
[1]
[2]
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[prototype RR] This scheme was developed in conjunction with Bild Design for a design competition utilizing SIP panels. The massing of the scheme is oriented to the sun and captures rainwater, redirecting it to productive planting beds. The scheme allows for a number of flexible plan options utilizing the same foundation strategy ranging from economical two bedroom strategy to an expanded second story three bedroom iteration.
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a program of the Tulane School of Architecture
[1]
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[schematic prototype] RR
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[prototype SS] Developed in conjunction with Bild Design, Prototype SS is designed as a phasing strategy. A simple mass with a narrow footprint is intended to fit on a variety of New Orleans lots. As the family grows more of the site can be claimed or the scheme can immediately be built and act as a rental unit. With time, the two parts can be connected into single-family home. Clear distinction between the two parts allows for proper solar orientation and subtle separation between the front public spaces and the potentially private rear garden spaces of the site
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a program of the Tulane School of Architecture
MASSING
ATTACH
SLIDE
SOLAR
DETACH
ORIENT
[1]
[2]
[schematic prototype] SS
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a program of the Tulane School of Architecture
[schematic prototype] SS
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[bayou bienvenue] This scheme exemplifies URBANbuild’s commitment to improving blighted neighborhoods. Bayou Bienvenue, a cypress swamp that historically protected the Lower 9th Ward from storm surges, was compromised with the introduction of the Industrial Canal, the Mississippi River Gulf Outlet and the resulting saltwater intrusion. This proposal for a neighborhood market and link to a renewed bayou is situated just outside of prototype 05.
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a program of the Tulane School of Architecture
[bayou bienvenue]
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[mobile goat unit] The Mobile Goat Unit reintroduces livestock into the 9th ward, deploying a mobile herd of goats to graze among the neighborhood’s abandoned, overgrown lots. The students of URBANbuild were asked by the Make it Right Foundation to design and build the shelter to house and deploy the goats. Presented with such a unique design dilemma, the students responded with a wealth of elevation, construction and mechanical strategies. The final scheme, mounted atop a 48’ trailer, is complete and will provide a mobile landmark to the neighborhood for years to come, as well as an invaluable service to the community.
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a program of the Tulane School of Architecture
[mobile goat unit]
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[director’s statement] Over the course of the past five years, Tulane’s URBANbuild program has realized a body of work in collaboration with a number of local community partners, vendors and material suppliers. Along this journey, we have attempted to develop responsible housing prototypes with reliance upon our understanding of the common cultural needs of the local environment, the limits of our regional workforce, and a growing awareness of affordable considerations. The definition of affordability is developing many variations ranging from the immediate costs of construction to the operating costs of the finished product. Throughout the work of the past five years we have discovered many limitations. However, even in the face of these limitations, it is rewarding to realize that our program has produced habitable structures for six families within some of the city‘s most struggling neighborhoods in addition to a small body of creative research as represented in this document. Five of our six completed structures have been realized in collaboration with Neighborhood Housing Services of New Orleans (NHS) while one was realized and developed with the Make It Right Organization of New Orleans (MIR). Our work with NHS has exposed us to not only the needs of the city’s underprivileged families and what is required for the revitalization of New Orleans’ urban fabric and neighborhoods, but also has awakened us to the limits of true market budgets and of the local work force.
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a program of the Tulane School of Architecture
In contrast, our relationship with MIR exposed students to a much larger network of materials and systems providers. Due to its international recognition, MIR has achieved great support by the developers of new technologies and building sciences. The MIR research and development office has offered to continue working with our students, and through this successful relationship students will continue to gain access to completed projects, members of the MIR research and development team and occupants of the inhabited structures. As our program moves forward, our next goal is to merge discoveries made through the collaborative relationships referenced above. The methods and activities of both organizations, NHS and MIR, have significant differences, and the present goal is to decipher the pros and cons of each organization’s approach in order to use them collectively to improve upon our program’s approach to the development of prototypical housing options. Updates on the growth of our design/build program may always be accessed via www.URBANbuild.tulane.edu. Questions may be directed to Byron Mouton via bmouton@tulane.edu, and our many thanks is extended to all supporters and believers in the work we do. Sincerely, Byron Mouton, Director Professor of Practice New Day Professor of Social Entrepreneurship
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[team] [lead contractor] anthony christiana [construction co-director] sam richards [project manager] will soniat [project manager] emilie taylor [research assistant] meaghan hartney [research assistant] colin vanwingen [research assistant] simcha ward [research assistant] drew mazur [research assistant] alison kass
a program of the Tulane School of Architecture
Anthony Christiana
Will Soniat
Emilie Taylor
Simcha Ward
Drew Mazur
Sam Richards
Meaghan Hartney Colin VanWingen
Alison Kass
[sponsors] Albert Small Jr. American Bar Association Len Reggio Make it Right NOLA Neighborhood Housing Services of New Orleans, Inc. Raymond Woolridge Foundation Robert and Michelle Diener Foundation Tulane City Center Tulane School of Architecture US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
[collaborators] Neighborhood Housing Services of New Orleans, Inc. Make it Right NOLA BILD design John C. Williams Architects LLC Anthony Christiana Construction TKO General Contracting Dial One Richies Plumbing Lacoste Heating and Air Ru S Electric
[collaborator comments]
[neighborhood housing service of new orleans, inc.] 4528 freret street new orleans, la 70115 504-899-5900 www.nhsnola.org/
[make it right] po box 58009 new orleans, la 70158 1-888-MIR-NOLA 1-888-647-6652
a program of the Tulane School of Architecture
[physical] tulane school of architecture richardson memorial hall tulane university 6823 st. charles ave. new orleans, la 70118
[web] http://urbanbuild.tulane.edu
[phone] 504-861-0042
[email] bmouton@tulane.edu