Holly & Smith Architects 2020 in Review

and Looking Ahead to 2021

While 2020 was anything but predictable, H/S remained as productive as always, even with our team working remotely for various durations. Along with celebrating our 40th anniversary as a design firm and naming our next-generation leadership team, we completed several projects, including Affordable Smiles Hammond, PARD Overflow Gymnasium, Entergy Service Center - Luling, and ENVOC Baton Rouge. One of our residential designs, The Fold House, was also featured on a national magazine cover.

NEXT GENERATION OF LEADERSHIP NAMED

After 40 years of practicing architecture in the region, Holly & Smith Architects APAC of Hammond and New Orleans has appointed new leadership, setting the stage for the organization's future.

Initiated by Michael Holly in 1980, and later partnering with Jeffrey Smith in 1985, the two founding principals have developed an organization grounded in the fundamentals of creating and maintaining great client relationships, providing creative and innovative design solutions, and providing a work product that surpasses our client's expectations. Through this commitment, the firm has produced award-winning designs that have fueled the firm's growth into a regional-based practice, expanding to and covering much of southern Louisiana. Through its successful business management, the firm has invested years in careful planning, strategies, and mentorships to make the new leadership team's succession as seamless as possible. Like any well-planned project, the firm's design and organizational structure need to be carefully implemented and orchestrated to be successful.

The Board of Directors of the company has appointed Kevin Morris as its new President, Ryan Faulk as CEO, and Pierre Theriot as Vice President in Charge of Design Direction. Michael Holly AIA and Jeffrey Smith AIA, the Founding Principals, will remain engaged in an advisory capacity, each in their respective roles.

Read more from the new leadership.

THE FOLD HOUSE NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED

We are excited and honored to have The Fold House featured on the cover of Residential Design. The residence is located on approximately 13 acres of forested land adjacent to a creek that ties into the Natalbany River. The theme of the Fold House centers around the use of folded planes to manipulate change and transformation of mass and form. Check out the full issue. 

AFFORDABLE SMILES - HAMMOND

On March 10, Affordable Smiles celebrated the Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for its new dental clinic in Hammond, Louisiana. H/S designed the tenant improvements and exterior renovations for this build-out of a 4,176 square foot dental office located on Hwy 190 in Hammond. The new facility was designed to provide comprehensive treatment planning and to use restorative and cosmetic dentistry to achieve optimal dental health.

 Regal Construction, LLC was the General Contractor for the project with Salas O'Brien, LLC providing mechanical, electrical & plumbing.H/S collaborated with p-l-a-i-d, inc. on the interior design of the facility.

ENTERGY SERVICE CENTER - LULING

The new Entergy Service Center located in Luling Louisiana provides a modernized facility for the company's Distribution Department. It consists of open office spaces, a variety of meeting rooms, assembly rooms, and a warehouse, which are all intended for general operation and storm recovery. 

Kent Design Build was the General Contractor for the project with Morphy Makofsky providing structural and civil engineering, and GVA Engineering providing mechanical, electrical & plumbing.

ENVOC - BATON ROUGE

Envoc’s previous Baton Rouge office location at Perkins Rowe was designed by Holly & Smith as a way to fit the brand and culture of the software development company.  When Envoc decided to build a new office building at City Farm, they enlisted H/S again. The task was to keep the Envoc branded space, but to blend it with the modern farmhouse aesthetic of the City Farm office park.  H/S used a neutral palette of black and white with both gray and cypress wood tones for the modern farmhouse feel, and inserted pops of the company’s branded colors, clean lines, and a large amount of glass for the edgy, creative feel that is true to Envoc’s culture.  The result is a unique space that blends the best of both worlds…becoming Envoc at City Farm.

 Dantin Bruce Construction was the General Contractor for the project with Salas O’Brien providing mechanical, electrical & plumbing, and Glass Walls by Steelcase / Frost Barber.

40 YEARS AND COUNTING...

In December of 2020, H/S celebrated its 40th anniversary as a design firm! We appreciate having the opportunity to contribute to the built environment during this time, starting from humble beginnings to the vibrant and energetic organization that we are today. Our business longevity is due, in large part, to the loyalty and success of our clients, our talented staff, and the people with whom we have had the pleasure to know and work. We are grateful for the relationships and the opportunities we have had over these years.  We plan to celebrate throughout the entire next year, sharing the history of our firm and our people, spotlighting some of our most significant projects, endeavors, and as a means to say thank you, contributing to service organizations that we find meaningful to our organization. Keep up with our 40 Year Celebration here.

H/S PROJECTS RECEIVED RECOGNITION FOR DESIGN 

H/S is committed to providing design solutions that are innovative, forward-thinking, and budget responsive. Our primary goal is creating purpose-driven, quality architecture, which is fundamentally focused on client satisfaction. Though it is not our goal of receiving awards, it is still gratifying when our peers recognize our design work. Our 2019 awards recognition included 3 from AIA Baton Rouge, 3 from IIDA Delta Regional, 1 from AIA Gulf States, 1 from AIA New Orleans, and 1 from the Louisiana Landmarks Society. 

St. Michael Special School
AIA Baton Rouge Gold Rose Award
AIA Gulf States Region Honor Citation Award
AIA New Orleans Merit Award
IIDA Delta Regional Chapter Award of Excellence - Historic Renovation/Preservation
Louisiana Landmarks Society 2020 Award for Excellence in Historic Preservation

Northshore Technical Community College - Livingston Campus
AIA Baton Rouge Silver Rose Award

Bayou Blue Retreat House
AIA Baton Rouge Rose Award

Southeastern Louisiana University Science and Technology Building
IIDA Delta Regional Chapter Award of Recognition - Institutional/Governmental

The Fold House
IIDA Delta Regional Chapter Award of Recognition - Residential

LOOKING AHEAD TO 2021

Looking ahead to a successful 2021, we will see the completed construction of:

• Mandeville High School Classroom Building and Gymnasium Addition
• Delgado Community College - Advanced Technology Center
• STOA Group Headquarters
• McNeese State Univ. Damage Assessment
• Entergy Headquarters 7th Floor Renovations
• Entergy Headquarters 28th Floor Executive Offices

2021 will also see construction begin on:

• Nunez Community College Student Testing and Career Counseling Center
• LSU Studio Arts Building
• YMCA - Belle Chasse
• Kentwood Library Branch
• Julius Freyhan Building Renovations and Additions
• El Khoury Residence
• Iron Oak House
• Covington High School Classroom Building Expansion
• NOPD 4th District Police Station
• LANG Lake Charles Readiness Center
• SLU - D. Vickers Hall Renovations and Additions