ABSTRACT

My capstone project proposal is to develop an Art Hub in New Orleans, Louisiana. The proj¬ect will be housed in the historic Krauss building which includes more than 300,000 square feet on six levels covering two city blocks of the much celebrated New Orleans downtown. I want to design a space that includes both the indoors and outdoors and provides a place for the arts that fuel New Orleans to culminate and thrive. The hope is that space will be open nearly 24 hours a day, year round and attract people from all walks of life. The project will be supported by the community and will in turn benefit the surrounding areas tremendously.

The facility will be multi-use consisting of art studios, classrooms, a learning kitchen, an indoor performance space, dance studios and a public park which will include a semi open-air stage. Incorporating all of these spaces and making them function successfully as one productive unit is the main challenge of this project. Choosing an arts hub for my senior capstone project has allowed me to work on many different areas of interest and explore more thoroughly the ins and outs of New Orleans culture.

I plan on researching materials and finishes as my Independent Study focus. It will facilitate a bet¬ter understanding of how to make public spaces thrive through design and will further help to complete the building’s overall atmosphere.