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"YOU REALLY HAVE to see New Orleans to believe it," says Rudy Barton, professor of architecture and former resident. Much of the devastation brought on by Hurricane Katrina remains. Businesses and homes lay vacant awaiting repair or demolition. Forty percent of the city's residents continue to live elsewhere.
Portland State architecture students saw the problems for themselves spring term as Barton led them on a six-day trip to work with local residents, architects, developers, and planners. They volunteered for a local nonprofit as they researched the needs of the central city.
Once back in their design studio class, the students applied a successful Portland urban concept to New Orleans' Canal Street. They designed living-above-the-store spaces—low-rise buildings with first-floor retail or public space topped by housing. This concept has met success in Portland with such projects as the Belmont Dairy in southeast, the Brewery blocks in northwest, and PSU's own Broadway building.
Some of the students' designs took into consideration future flooding. They created parking garages or farmers markets on the first floor that could be easily vacated with rising water.
"This project combined the best characteristics of our architecture program at Portland State," says Barton. "It had breadth, creating not so much concrete answers as an understanding of architecture as a product and influence on culture."
Barton has sent the students' concepts to New Orleans neighborhood groups, the city council, and to friends on the Tulane University faculty. They are possibilities that Barton hopes will add to the public discussion.
Architecture students (top left to right) Justin Guadagni, Maggie Combs, Dan Wood, and Brandi Phillips worked with New Orleans Alliance for Affordable Energy for one week this spring. They spent a second week exploring mixed-use housing for the city, resulting in concepts such as Curtis Roth's, pictured above right.
Understanding architecture's impact
Portland State's pre-professional architecture degree allows students to study architecture in the context of a broad liberal arts education—encouraging the view that architecture is a diverse discipline with many different paths. Students pursue either a B.A. or B.S. degree with a major in architecture. Those seeking professional licensure must later pursue a master's degree at an accredited architecture school.