trahan architects: louisiana state museum + sports hall of fame

louisiana state museum + sports hall of fame by trahan architects
image © tim hursley
all images courtesy of trahan architects

in celebration of the gulf state’s rich history, trahan architects design the louisiana state museum and sports hall of fame (LSMSHOF) to unite history and athletics, covering the region’s great cultural wealth. located in the territory’s oldest settlement, natchitoches, the site overlooks the cane river lake at the edge of the red river valley. the architectonics mimic the natural forms of its surrounding.

inside, a central atrium at the entrance is a focal point of the design – intended to be a gathering place for the community. from here, corridors curve and meander throughout the building, leading visitors between athletic memorabilia from over 250 local sports figures, and 28,000 square feet of historic artifacts and exhibitions. the exterior of the building is clad in pleated copper panels as a reference to the area’s industry. their spacing and organization allows ample daylight and air to enter the building, while giving the building rhythm and scale.

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UPDATE: a year after LSMSHOF opened to the public, creative agency spirit of space spent several days inside the museum observing the patrons and their particular experiences. the film carries viewers past the historic district’s references, around the pleated copper façade and into the sculpted interior. watch the movie in full below.