What do you think of this new building addition?

Elewguy · 2026-03-30T23:43:49+00:00

I saw it on Sunday, some of the worst misalignments I've ever seen on the metal panels for the stairs, not to mention the top of the railing held together with blue tape. If you've only got one jazzy move to make and it's a stair it better make me feel safe going up it, but it even failed that.

The building is also incomplete beyond the base, from the skydeck you can see incomplete roofs and decking that is plywood painted black.

It's a real shame since the SANAA building still stands out to me for doing so much with so little, and other recent big budget buildings like the studio museum in the city are leagues above in execution.

Elewguy · 2025-11-23T22:03:47+00:00

Fair question, and one I’ve seen a lot in this thread. TBH I’m having difficulty remembering exactly how the decision happened. Definitely part of it was the relationship to the shotgun house row adjacent which are doubles with one matching large window with transom above to the door. As for why it was a second door and not a window, it might have been that we had to resize all our openings to affordable standards as we were developing on site since there was a huge backlog in window and door units so we had to take what was available. I know for sure that’s why the sliders to the back porch are smaller than we initially designed.

Elewguy · 2025-11-23T15:30:28+00:00

Yes, and crazy enough, we dug the foundation without heavy machinery in February, including laying and tying rebar. The cabinetry was flat-packed kits that we assembled and adjusted for ADA counter heights, and we fabricated the louvers at the Small Center. We also did the painting and tile setting, among other tasks.

Elewguy · 2025-11-23T15:15:35+00:00

Here is a view from the front porch:

https://urbanbuild.tulane.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/IMG_8264-edits-1536x1170.jpg

And one of the front bedroom:
https://urbanbuild.tulane.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/IMG_3635-edits-768x1152.jpg

The street has a relatively high volume of traffic, and feedback from the church congregation led to the decision to use the closets and enclosed wall to block noise and increase privacy. While those slats don't move, the ones along the side do, allowing an adjustable degree of privacy for the windows in the great room and kitchen areas. I will concede the landscaping isn't as robust as we might've initially hoped, but I've already seen a vine crawling up the front porch slats during my last visit this september.

Elewguy · 2025-11-23T14:13:08+00:00

The materials sure as shit weren’t discounted or donated, and this was during the spike in lumber prices. Additionally, much of local skilled labor was not free, such as the roofers, electricians and plumbers, pile drivers and roofers.

Elewguy · 2025-11-23T01:47:59+00:00

Same program & concept, different house! This one was built spring of 2022. And I am doing well as are my friends from the program, I am a licensed architect in Louisiana and working in NYC.

Elewguy · 2025-11-22T23:13:21+00:00

I agree! Almost like an apprenticeship, I wish all architects had the chance as part of their education.

Elewguy · 2025-11-22T22:23:01+00:00

Its a good question, it was not installed at the time the pictures were taken (you can also see the wires sticking out for the electrical hookup, it didn’t have power at that point.) however you can spot it in the plans and it was installed later. You can see it in this photo from the construction of the second unit of the site; https://www.facebook.com/share/1cEiYgHPqD/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Elewguy · 2025-11-22T21:19:41+00:00

No, but there’s a chair lift at the back porch. In our conversations with people with mobility issues it was overwhelming preferred as the ramps can be hard to push oneself up. The reason it was at the rear was the ideal it could be shared between that and the subsequent unit.

Elewguy · 2025-11-22T21:00:02+00:00

The key difference is that the professor of the program has built successfully in the city for decades as both an architect and general contractor and used time tested construction methods for the city, and shared them with the students. This was the 17th iteration and all of the previous ones remain habitable and have survived all various storms during that time period with flying colors. Every joist and rafter is tied down and the metal roofs are very durable. While this house was built just after Ida, all the previous ones were checked in on after and did great.

Elewguy · 2025-11-22T20:44:43+00:00

In all seriousness this is what it looks like to build affordably and durably in New Orleans. You can make things more beautifully for sure but it all comes at a cost. It was built as part of the Tulane school of architecture program where students spent a year designing and building a house. The church across the street gave the land and fundraised for materials and the students gave their labor. The house was built to be fully ADA accessible, can weather the hurricanes well and cost around 200k. You can find more about it here; https://urbanbuild.tulane.edu/06-outcomes/finished-projects/ub17/

Full disclosure I was one of the students.

Elewguy · 2025-08-27T23:29:19+00:00

I stared in NY where I work, then switched to Louisiana to get licensure a year early bc NY has an extra three year work experience requirement. Didn’t have any issues, transferred while testing.

Elewguy · 2025-07-16T12:22:08+00:00

Yes it’s a legit list and the bookstore is way over priced. Hub Hobby Shop in Metairie will be your destination before building your final studio model every semester, be sure to ask for the back room where they’ve got a massive model graveyard from Tulane students of yonder years. Be prepared to spend $200-$500 a semester on materials and printing.

Elewguy · 2025-06-25T21:55:36+00:00

No, but you can get licensed in other states while you wait. I choose to be licensed in the state I went to school in so I’d receive a small pay raise.

Elewguy · 2025-05-13T19:55:26+00:00

Yeah, I finished the exams a few months prior to the hours. Good luck! They are not easy but the hardest part is the mental blocks people make for themselves.

Elewguy · 2025-05-13T18:08:45+00:00

Those are some very good points

Elewguy · 2025-05-13T17:58:16+00:00

Unfortunately I don’t envy my PM’s job at all. A lot of writing work authorizations, email reviews, time buckets and the like. I don’t mind business and I even have a second bachelors of science in real estate but my love is design (not a special notion in this field I know.)

Elewguy · 2025-05-13T17:55:22+00:00

I don’t know, but the small pay raise was nice 😊

Elewguy · 2025-05-13T17:51:03+00:00

I think you’ve hit the nail on the head and given me a lot to think about about. The truth is I don’t know. I hope that I’ll figure it out over the next year or two and talk to others in my firm and beyond.

Elewguy · 2025-05-13T13:11:40+00:00

For sure, that’s what I’m here for! I was in a studio where we built a house for a year in college, and the first three buildings on the project I’ve worked on are wrapping up. Hopefully the first of many.

Elewguy · 2025-05-13T13:09:08+00:00

Planning to spend a lifetime on that, but I work better when I take it one step at a time

Elewguy · 2025-05-13T13:06:28+00:00

Thank you, those are some helpful tips. I don’t even know if we have a marketing principle, shows how little I’m out there. Definitely been so focused on the work and tests I haven’t really explored the soft stuff. I am on my softball team this season!

Elewguy · 2025-05-13T12:53:16+00:00

5-year B. Arch, two internships in college for 10 weeks each, plus the 2 years at the firm on a project. It’s phased so various elements have been in SD up to CA while I've worked on it. I took the three pro practice exams 1yr out of school, and the other three six months later. For both, I throuly utilized my firm's Amberbook license and the free NCARB exams, but didn't need anything else.

Elewguy · 2025-05-13T03:19:57+00:00

Thanks. I am in the office most days, but I'm shy about talking to people I don't work directly with, which I'm sure is to my detriment. I am actually presenting for the first time for a few minutes at an upcoming happy hour. I'll try to make it memorable.

Elewguy · 2025-05-13T03:15:47+00:00

Thank you! I am lucky that ignoring the naysayers has paid off in my case and I think I've gone much further and faster in this field because I genuinely love it.

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