Overview of Spaces

Practice Spaces
2 medium-sized studios: 1,000 SF
1 large studio: 1,500 SF
1 small studio: 800 SF
Circulation: 90%
TOTAL: 3,300 SF
1 music rehearsal/conference room: 2,000 SF
3 private music rehearsal rooms: 150 SF each
Circulation: 15%
TOTAL: 2,150 SF
TOTAL: 5450 SF

Locker Rooms
500 SF each
Warm-up area: 200 SF
Lockers: 150 SF
Circulation: 20%
TOTAL: 1350 SF

Black Box Theater
Performance space: 1,600 SF (stage + audience)
Backstage, storage, etc: 500 SF
Clear ceiling height: 12-14 ft (10 ft minimum)
Circulation: 20%
TOTAL: 2100 SF

Rooftop Performance Space
Lobby: 400 SF
Lounge Area: 1,500 SF
Seating Area: 1,000 SF
Stage Area: 2,500 SF
Circulation: 20%
TOTAL: 6,500 SF

Media Library
2,000 SF (shelves, reading area, listening station)
Viewing room: 550 SF
Circulation: 20%
TOTAL: 3,060 SF

Deli / Grocery
Deli Counter: 300 SF
Deli Seating: 1000 SF
Food Prep/Deli Storage: 200 SF
Retail Storage: 500 SF
Retail: 1800 SF
Circulation: 20%
TOTAL: 4500 SF

Administration
3 faculty offices @ 150 SF
1 faculty collaboration area: 300 SF
Circulation: 20%
TOTAL: 540 SF

Storage
Dance Studios: 250 SF
Roof/Music: 380 SF
Circulation: 20%
TOTAL: 750 SF


Lobby / Gathering Spaces
Main Building Lobby/Viewing Area: 1000 SF
Student Lounge/Viewing Area: 1000 SF
Circulation: 20%
TOTAL: 2,000 SF

Public Restrooms
Main Lobby: 250 SF
Grocery: 250 SF
2nd floor: 150 SF
3rd floor/roof: 250 SF
Circulation: 20%
TOTAL: 900 SF


PROGRAM TOTAL: 27,000 SF

Preliminary Introduction

The development of downtown Baton Rouge is proceeding rapidly. Within a few years, downtown Baton Rouge is expected to be a center of residential, commercial, and retail life in the city. The emergence of downtown as an arts and cultural center is another goal for the city’s developers. The Shaw Center for the Arts and several art galleries demonstrate this gravitation. The downtown area would benefit from places that support the presence of the arts and help to connect it to the community.

My proposed design for the Kress, Knox, and Welsh-Levy buildings includes a dance and performing arts school and a combination deli and grocery store. The design will include the deli, practice spaces, a small black box theater, and an outdoor performance space on the roof. The deli and grocery store will serve to connect the school to the surrounding community and provide the downtown area with a necessity that does not currently exist there. The rooftop performance space will be partially covered with an open, tent-like shell structure that will provide shading and acoustical control and serve as a distinctive identifying feature for the school and the downtown area.

The school will cater to all age and skill levels and include dance and perhaps music therapy. The practice and performance spaces may sometimes be used for public events, and the deli will be open to the public. The deli and grocery store will be geared specifically toward health-conscious individuals.


SITE

EXISTING CONDITIONS
The Kress, Knox, and Welsh Levy buildings are currently undergoing renovation. All three interiors have been gutted, and the ground-level facades have been removed revealing the interiors of all three buildings.


ORIENTATION
The buildings are situated on the corner of Third and Laurel St. facing east. The Welsh Levy building also fronts to the north.


INFLUENCES
Context
The buildings are located in an area with several currently vacant buildings. The Fuqua Building, located across the street, is future home to new condominiums. Buildings currently in use in the immediate vicinity include the Capital One building and a Chinese restaurant. The buildings are located two blocks east of the Mississippi River levy. A parking garage is located one block to the north, and parallel parking is available in the area, and an on-grade parking lot is directly behind the buildings.
Access
Main entrances are on Third St. for the Kress and Knox buildings and Laurel St. for the Welsh Levy building. Fire stairs are located in the Kress and Welsh Levy buildings on either side of the Knox Building exiting onto Third St. An elevator shaft is located on the northwest corner of the Welsh Levy building. Roof access is available for the Kress and Knox buildings.


SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS
All three buildings are listed on the Louisiana Register of Historic Places. The Kress building has specific historic significance as it was the site of a 1960 civil rights protest by Southern University students at the lunch counter of the five and dime.

Logo: 1st Draft

This is the first draft of my logo. The name and colors will change, and the shape of the curvy line will change to reflect the shape of the rooftop shell once that is developed.

Precedent: Arts for Humanity EpiCenter

Precedent: Alessi Store

Precedent: Stevie Eller Dance Theatre

Precedent: Neues Tempodrom

Precedent: Laban Dance Centre

Resource for the design of dance studios

While I was downtown today I walked around the Kress, Knox, and Welsh Levy buildings to get a better look at the sizes. Although I couldn't go inside because the buildings are under construction, the facades of all 3 buildings on the ground level are torn off and the interiors are exposed. The Welsh Levy is smaller than I thought, but I'm afraid that if I pair it with the Knox and the part of the Kress that faces Laurel St. I'll have to much space. I'm considering using the part of the Kress that faces Third St. instead. I'll look over the plans again tomorrow in studio.