LOOP Pavilion

LOOP NOLA is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide positive, life-changing outdoor experiences for children and youth in Greater New Orleans. Beyond camping and canoeing, one of their leadership training activities is a challenge course on an island in city park. Without access to shade or seating, the island ropes course site had posed logistical challenges that interfered with the youth’s experience. This pavilion provides shade, seating and storage allowing LOOP to provide better, safer programs for the students with whom they work.

The design was inspired by the tree canopy surrounding the challenge course and uses aluminum traffic signs as a modular, exterior grade unit to create an abstracted, high-performing canopy overhead. In keeping with the context of the adjacent ropes course structure, the canopy is suspended with steel cable from a larger steel structure in a way that creates an undulating, complex curve. The seating is built into an earth berm created by reusing railroad ties from the historic St. Charles Avenue streetcar line.

Awards
AIA Gulf States Award of Merit-2016 
AIA New Orleans Divine Detail Award-2014

Project Leads
Sam Richards, Emilie Taylor Welty

Design+Build
Dan Akerley, Madison Baker, Casey Bemis, Jose Cotto, John Coyle, Rachel Conques, Michelle Carroll, Maggie Easley, Ellen Hearle, Emma Jasinski, Kate Luxner, Sarah Satterlee, Meredith Zelenka