Tulane University: Mussafer Hall

Tulane University 

TOP LEFT/MIDDLE, BOTTOM LEFT TWO PHOTOS © SARA ESSEX BRADLEY
TOP RIGHT, BOTTOM RIGHT TWO PHOTOS © NEIL ALEXANDER

Prominently located on Tulane University’s historic Gibson quad in New Orleans, LA, Mussafer Hall combines the adaptive reuse of a 1902 brick structure with a modern limestone addition designed to preserve and protect the campus landscape. The 23,000-square-foot academic building is home to the new Center for Student Success, which brings together Tulane’s Academic Advising and Career Services programs. The design provides a bold counterpoint to the historic structure inside as well as out. The addition houses generously sized, flexible public spaces and conference rooms. Sophisticated but utilitarian, the central ground-floor space is designed to accommodate classes, lectures, meetings, receptions, seminars, and other events. Its black millwork panels conceal storage areas, flex space, and markerboards, and the highly adjustable custom shutters are a modern interpretation of a traditional New Orleans feature that provides complete control over natural light.

The 7,600-square-foot addition was shaped by its challenging context, a tight site between the historic dormitory and a majestic 100-year-old live oak tree—the oldest on campus and the only tree allowed to grow naturally.

studioWTA’s inspiring modern design navigates the space with a series of shifting cantilevered volumes clad in stucco, limestone, and glass. The materials suggest a sense of permanence appropriate for a prominent university, and echo the brick, stone, and cement used in the adjacent structure. Mussafer Hall’s triangular footprint is respectfully set back from the historic building and angled away from the tree to protect its roots and canopy. The recessed second-floor storefront deepens the expression of the cantilever above, which partially shades a large roof terrace designed to take full advantage of the New Orleans climate.

Mussafer Hall earned LEED Gold certification thanks to its preservation efforts, dedication to passive sustainable measures, and the thoughtful integration of modern systems to improve building performance.

This article originally appeared in the College Planning & Management October 2019 issue of Spaces4Learning.

Featured

  • Kimball Showroom Earns WELL Certified Platinum Distinction

    Commercial furnishings company Kimball International recently announced that its showroom in New York City has achieved WELL Certification at the Platinum level as dictated by the International WELL Building Institute, according to a news release. The certification demonstrates a continuing commitment to creating environments that promote health, well-being, and productivity.

  • California K–12 District Opens New Athletic Complex, Gym

    The San Mateo Union High School District (SMUHSD) in San Mateo, Calif., recently announced the completion of two new athletics facilities: a new gymnasium at Burlingame High School, and a new athletic training complex at San Mateo High School, according to a news release.

  • KI Wall Demonstrates New Solutions at NeoCon 2025

    KI Wall attended NeoCon 2025 in Chicago, Ill., last month to showcase its new architectural wall systems and collaborations, according to a news release. Its customizable, design-forward wall solutions are intended to support creativity in work, education, and healthcare environments.

  • StarRez Releases 2025 State of Student Housing Report

    Student housing software solutions provider StarRez recently released its second State of the Student Housing Industry Report, according to a news release. The report is based on the results of survey data from more than 400 higher education institutions around the world, both StarRez clients and not.

Digital Edition