Gehry in New Orleans

As Frank Gehry's new Make It Right house has been gaining attention, it reminded us that the Southeastern Architectural Archive retains drawings of the architect's first New Orleans project, the Louisiana World Exposition Amphitheater.

An American Institute of Architects award-winning structure, the LWE amphitheater was designed in 1983. Originally the city expressed an interest in retaining the amphitheater beyond the duration of the World's Fair, but the Dock Board  had concerns about the structure's impact on wharf operations and property owner Lester Kabacoff felt that it would obstruct river views.

The Liggett and Myers Quality Seal Amphitheater -- the structure's promotional identity -- was dismantled shortly after the fair ended.

Image above:  Inverted detail, Frank O. Gehry & Associates, Inc. L.W.E. Amphitheater. 12 January 1983. Perez Associates 1984/Louisiana World Exposition Records, Southeastern Architectural Archive, Special Collection Division, Tulane University Libraries.

Field Trip: Biloxi, Mississippi

Tulane School of Architecture faculty member Milton Scheuermann organized a driving tour of Mississippi's Gulf Coast architecture. The tour included a stop at Frank Gehry's Biloxi Ohr-O'Keefe Museum, scheduled to open 8 November 2010. This is the second grand opening scheduled for the museum: the multiple pavilions that comprise the new arts campus were assaulted by Hurricane Katrina fifteen months prior to its initial opening date. As the structures near completion today, visitors may walk along its connective brick pathway and ascend to the "Shoo-Fly" lookout tower perched amidst the branches of ancient live oaks (trussing above).

It should be mentioned that Frank Gehry participated in another Gulf Coast project over twenty-six years ago. Drawings for his Louisiana World Exposition Amphitheater reside in the Southeastern Architectural Archive's 1984 Louisiana World Exposition Collection (Number 86).

Image above: Trussing in "Shoo-Fly" Lookout Tower, Ohr-O'Keefe Museum, Biloxi, Mississippi. Frank Gehry, Architect. As photographed by K. Rylance 31 July 2010.