The Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts (LSMSA) is the flagship public high school of Louisiana, and draws high-achieving high school students from all socio-economic backgrounds across the state to live and learn in Natchitoches, Louisiana. The design team set out to enable the school’s vision to intertwine academic and community culture with Living Learning Commons.

Three wings pinwheel out from a central lobby to compose the building footprint. The layout of the wings frames two courtyards – then weaves and steps with the topography to preserve lines of pine and cypress trees along the north and south edges before aligning the south end of the lobby with a large live oak tree. Brick masonry wraps the residences and vertical circulation, while zinc and glass enclose connecting social spaces, serving as an inviting counterpoint. Warm and tactile cypress weaves through and unifies the ground-level shared spaces.

Ten independently functioning “neighborhood halls” nest within the building and organize the student residences, comprising nine four-person suites, each with a distinctive accent color punctuating wall and ceiling surfaces. Students circulate through a light-filled hall commons – an appealing place to hang out, share a meal, or hold a group meeting. Each “neighborhood” has a laundry, trash & recycling center, and a quiet study lounge overlooking the courtyards. A student life advisor oversees the 36 teenagers within each neighborhood and maintains an office and residence on the hall.