Landscape Architect Articles

LASN December 2011 Hardscapes: Wreckage to Rebirth: A Transformation of the Louisiana Superdome Post-Hurricane Katrina12-09-11 | News

Wreckage to Rebirth:
A Transformation of the Louisiana Superdome Post-Hurricane Katrina

By Monica Helms, consultant to Pavestone Company

A series of color-changing fiber optic lights were installed along the stairway; the light boxes were installed in the paving stones and had to be meticulously coordinated so as to be perfectly lined up and level.
Photos: Pavestone Company

At 269,000 square feet, the Louisiana Superdome creates an impressive silhouette against the downtown New Orleans skyline. Located just east of the Superdome, one can find another 121,000 square feet of something to be impressed by ?EUR??,,????'?????<

Having opened during August 2010, the Square has since become one of the city?EUR??,,????'?????<

A third phase to the paving project is scheduled for completion in 2013. The third phase will add another 500,000 square feet of pavers to the site.

With its completion, Champions Square has become a hub of vibrant activity during events, with a variety of food and drink vendors and a state-of-the-art sound and lighting stage for concerts, festivals, corporate events and more.
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Rod Trahan of LA Pavers, the contracting company responsible for laying the paving stones, added, ?EUR??,,????'?????<

LA Pavers also worked in conjunction with All-Star Electric to install fiber optic light boxes in the paving stones over the podium deck area.

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Paver Installation
The actual design of the paving stones added pressure to an already tight timeline, as well.

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Thanks to this creative use of herringbone and linear patterns and silver, dark brown and pewter-colored paving stones, patrons are able to easily distinguish between the roadway and festival area paving stones. For safety reasons, the one-block stretch of LaSalle Street has been permanently closed to vehicular traffic, and eventually the area will be transformed into an urban mall.

With just a glance, onlookers can easily discern why the paving stones making up Champions Square play witness to significant amounts of foot traffic before and after events.

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In the day time, the fiber optic light boxes look simply like small white squares in between each paving stone. At night, they light up in an array of colors, which helps light the steps and serves an aesthetically pleasing purpose.

More Renovations
Phase III of the renovations planned for Champions Square are intended to be completed sometime in 2013, which will include the addition of more paving stones, as well as a permanent
food court.

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The primary mission of the first two phases intends to establish that the concept will function as a sustainable business model. In addition to concessions and the attraction of events to the state-of-the-art sound and lighting stage, the renovations also establish Champions Square as a definitive place for Saints fans to congregate before and after games.