Zeta Beta Tau Fraternity House

1006 Broadway St.

New Orleans, Louisiana

2009
The ZBT Fraternity House boasts 18 single suites with shared bathrooms, social and study areas, laundry facilities, and state-of-the-art kitchen and dining facilities.
Sigma Chapter Foundation of ZBT fraternity, client
8,015 sf
Collaborators:

Wayne Troyer FAIA

Kenyon Zimmerman

Tracie Ashe AIA

 

Photography:

Neil Alexander

Jeffrey Johnston

Project Type: Housing

The ZBT Fraternity House replaces the society’s original residential structure destroyed by fire in 2005. Designed on the original footprint, it now boasts 18 single suites with shared bathrooms, social and study areas, laundry facilities, and state-of-the-art kitchen and dining facilities. As all fraternity houses affiliated with Tulane University were originally constructed as private residences, the new ZBT facility has the distinct advantage and uniqueness of a functional and architectural design that results from the purpose and sensibility of its use.

The building is a three story wood frame structure. The first floor will receive most of the abuse, so the floor slab is polished concrete with an integral curb; floor drains in the main areas allow easy cleanup after frequent social events. The space is maintained as an open floor plan, with moisture- and impact-resistant gypsum board wall covering. Sound absorption in the large room is achieved through variously sized ceiling applications of cementitious wood fiber acoustic panels.

Rainscreen siding and smooth plaster reference buildings throughout the neighborhood. Steel balconies can withstand heavy use; they serve the dual purpose of extending the social areas and shading the southern facade.  Building mass is broken down formally into a composition of solids in an attempt to moderate between its size and that of the adjacent buildings.