Modern Architecture in New Orleans Threatened

The 2010 list of endangered cultural sites was released today by the World Monuments Fund. On this list was Phillis Wheatley Elementary School, a mid-century modern monument in New Orlean's Tremé/Lafitte neighborhood, shown below. When I heard this I was very interested to find out more about this school and it's Architect, Charles Colbert, since it's rare to hear much about modern architecture in a city overshadowed by the historically significant, 18th century structures of the French Quarter. Once I started digging I discovered that there is actually an aggressive movement to save and adaptively reuse many of New Orlean's mid-century modern structures. Phillis Wheatley Elementary School is actually 1 of 4 schools (all shown below) in the city that are being threatened with imminent demolition while many beautiful and significant modern structures have already been lost in just the last couple of years.

Interesting side note: Wheatley (Tremé/Lafitte) and Thomy Lafon Elementary School (Central City), shown below, are located in neighborhoods that were flooded during Katrina in 2005 yet due to the regional sensitivity that their architects possessed, neither of these buildings flooded.

To find out more, to lend a hand or to share information on this topic, check out this great blog written by the Visual Resources Curator at Tulane School of Architecture Regional Modernism: The New Orleans Archives







Phillis Wheatley Elementary School
Built 1955
Architect: Charles Colbert
Considered one of the ten most important modernist buildings in Louisiana

"All of the 22 classrooms for 770 pupils were raised off the ground, in order to provide an open play area, as the building occupies the major part of the site. Two rows of concrete piers support the cantilivered structure. A series of large steel trusses sandwiched between the classroom walls make this cantilever possible. Classrooms are accessible from open corridors, have bilateral lighting and cross ventilation. Administration and combination auditorium / cafeteria are housed in adjoining one-story structure."



George Washington Carver Junior - Senior High School
Built 1958
Architects: Curtis and Davis
Recipient of the Progressive Architecture First Design Award





Thomy Lafon Elementary School
Built 1954
Architects: Curtis and Davis
Recipient of the American Institute of Architects Honor Award





Hoffman Elementary Schoold
Built 1954
Architects: Sol Rosenthal and Charles Colbert


More Modern Architecture in New Orleans





McDonough No. 36 / Mahalia Jackson Elementary School
Built 1954
Architects: Sol Rosenthal and Charles Colbert
Being restored!


Petrolane, Gas Appliance Showroom
1352 Jefferson Highway
Architect: F. Monroe Labouisse







St. Frances Cabrini Church
Built 1962 (Demolished 2007)
Architects: Curtis and Davis





Motel de Ville
Built 1953
3800 Tulane Avenue (Demolished)
Architect: Charles Colbert



Sanlin Building
442 Canal Street
Mid-century modern aluminum facade covering Greek Revival building



Lake Pontchartrain Causeway
Opened in 1956
Design & Construction: Palmer & Baker Inc.
*Longest bridge in the world at 24 miles over water