Following the destruction by Hurricane Katrina of their original historically-significant campus located in the 9th Ward of New Orleans, the Holy Cross School administration (working with volunteer board members) made the decision to relocate their entire campus to a new site in the Gentilly neighborhood where a Catholic Church and 2 schools were located before being destroyed during the storm. The architectural design of the new buildings was developed to reference the Romanesque style of the original campus. The look of the new buildings, as well as the plan for the interior spaces, were all architecturally and emotionally significant to the generations of alumni and students who pass through the halls since the school’s founding in 1849. Our work on this project was important and notable for several reason. One: To help realize the designer’s vision for this re-imagined facility. Two: The project required 750 Portland cement and epoxy-precast-stair-treads and over 41,000 square feet of multiple color 3/8″ epoxy terrazzo flooring with integrated Mother-of-Pearl, marble and recycled glass aggregates. Three: Overcoming the challenge of working in multiple buildings simultaneously while meeting the delivery-scheduled expectations. The final campus is an amazing state-of-the-art education facility that includes the two buildings we helped realize: The Administration Building that includes an 8th Grade Center, and the Student Center with integrated Gymnasium, Snack Café (The Huddle), and the school’s Chapel.

Vendors:

Terrazzo & Marble Supply: Epoxy Terrazzo system and Aggregates
Wausau Tile Inc.: Precast Terrazzo Stair Treads
Manhattan American Terrazzo Strip Co: Divider Strips and Circles