GraceHebert Architects is a regionally recognized firm that has set themselves apart with a holistic and tech-savvy approach to sound creative design practices. The acquisition provides geographic growth opportunities for both firms as well as strengthening the foundation and resources for their respective collaborative processes.
“The acquisition of HMS Architects stems from a mutually respectful and collaborative working relationship,” said Jerry Hebert, President of GraceHebert Architects. “HMS Architects’ outstanding reputation and long-standing legacy in the Greater New Orleans area coupled with our resources and presence in a wide variety of industries will endow both entities with new growth opportunities.”
The acquisition will increase GraceHebert Architects size to 40 full-time employees with plans for immediate hiring in the Baton Rouge and New Orleans offices. “The GraceHebert partnership provides HMS Architects with a boost in resources and staff to continue to serve our clients in the elite manner they have come to expect. The entire team looks forward to joining GraceHebert Architects and continuing our long history of providing the Greater New Orleans area innovative design practices,” said Keith Steger, Principal of HMS Architects.
HMS Architects, founded in 1996, offers a full range of architectural services and has a collective of over sixty years of project experience. Historically, HMS Architects’ focus has been in the performing arts, hospitality, education, and industrial design.
More information about GraceHebert Architects
More information about HMS Architects
Thursday, April 5, 2018
Wednesday, February 22, 2017
Construction begins on the Park VII Pool Deck
More information on the Park VII Pool Deck
More information on HMS Designed Residential Projects
More information on Billbar Construction
Wednesday, September 7, 2016
Construction Completed at the Ochsner PT and Primary Care Clinic at Bellemeade
The Ochsner PT and Primary Care Clinic at Bellemeade has been substantially completed by Clement Building Company on September 1st, 2016, for Ochsner Health Systems in Terrytown, Louisiana.
This former K&B, an existing tilt-up concrete and steel framed building building consists of 19,043 SF of built area, on one floor with a mechanical mezzanine, and contains both a primary care clinic and a separate physical therapy clinic under the same roof.
The physical therapy clinic consists of a 5500 SF gymnasium, full of equipment and therapy tables, as well as five 100 SF treatment rooms. The suite also includes a waiting area, which is able to see the activity in the gym, but is shielded from the noise by an interior storefront wall. There is also a custom reception desk that opens to both the waiting room and to the gymnasium, through the glass wall. There is also a pediatrics room to treat children.
Since the Primary Care clinic is so large, it is designed specifically to be easy to navigate for patients. The 26 exam rooms of the overall clinic have been arranged into two color-coded sub-clinics, and the hallways have been opened up to the existing high roof deck above. The subtly color-coded cores of these sub clinics are the nurse stations, which are clustered around the doctor pods, secluded areas where doctors can collaborate with the nurses and one another in relative privacy, with most of the supplies and service spaces that all the caregivers will need located nearby. These two color coded service pods are visible from all hallways within that large, open, simplified volume, which makes it incredibly easy for patients to orient themselves within the large clinic.
The primary care clinic includes an X-ray suite, 23 regular exam rooms, one bariatric exam room, 2 large exam rooms, a shared/E-visit room, a conference room that can double as an exam room, a two-seat blood draw room, a point-of-care testing facility, a medications room, several enclosed offices for supervisors and scheduling needs, and plenty of storage. The waiting room is enclosed by interior storefront, allowing views and an open feel to both the other waiting room, as well as the activity and dynamism within the gymnasium.
Despite the large footprint of the overall project, there were difficulties during design in fitting the extensive program within the building. Careful analysis of the contents and usage of each room with the users helped us to massage the layout until all of the desired features could be accommodated. One innovative technique we used was to install several single-stall restrooms, instead of large multi-stall restrooms. This allowed us to have a smaller overall square footage of restroom area, by reducing the interior circulation space within the restrooms. Making the restrooms unisex also allowed us to have fewer fixtures overall, as anyone can use any restroom.
Construction took 5 Months, since March 31st, 2016. Including the 5 Months of design, the entire length of the project has been 11 months.
The final building cost of the project was $2.7 million, or $144/SF. Change orders were kept below 3% of the bid cost.
We thank Ochsner Health Systems and Clement Building Company for working with us on the project, and wish them the best in the future.
Wednesday, August 3, 2016
Renovations to St. Joseph’s Hall at Notre Dame are Complete
St Joseph's Hall at Notre Dame Seminary has been substantially completed by FH Myers Construction on July 22nd, 2016 for the Archdiocese of New Orleans in New Orleans, Louisiana.
St Joseph's Hall is an existing historic 4-story, 63,300 SF masonry student housing building at Notre Dame Seminary, a repeat client for HMS. We had previously renovated the 4000 square-foot auditorium in this building and are continuing to do work on campus. In this project, HMS worked with the Archdiocese to rearrange the 36 student dormitories and 21 faculty dormitories into more contemporary suites. The design solution created adjoining rooms with a shared bathroom. The rooms can be utilized individually or paired together to create a suite for faculty full-time residence. Several suites are set aside for visiting priests to stay while in town. In addition, the renovation included 5 classrooms, including one computer lab and practicum space. The existing chapel was relocated from a central rotunda to a more secluded cathedral-ceiling space on the top floor, with the rotunda turned into an easily-accessed student lounge. Finally, we reconfigured the ad-hoc office area to a deliberately designed, 31 office administrative suite.
The historic nature of the building and its close proximity to the seminary building meant the design team had to approach our work with sensitivity to the character of the original design and compliment the existing materials and craftsmanship. To that end, the decision was made to refurbish the existing wood windows, salvage much of the existing interior masonry partitions, and create a custom wood baseboard detail that seamlessly integrates new power and data to each dorm room. In a similar way, we reconfigured the previously retrofitted air conditioning system to be able to raise the hallway ceiling almost back to its original height, while still accommodating the lighting, air conditioning, plumbing, and new sprinkler systems.
The entire project was completed in 27 months including 15 months of construction. The project was opened in Aptil 2015 only one day behind the original project schedule, and well in advance of arriving students for the fall semester. The project was also completed well under budget.
Wednesday, July 27, 2016
The Lakewood Elementary School Building A Renovations are Substantially Complete
The Lakewood Elementary School Building A Renovations were completed by Dynamic Constructors in late July, for St Charles Parish Public Schools, in Luling, Louisiana.
This existing steel-framed, concrete block building consists of 26,700 SF of renovated area, all on the first floor. The renovation modified a large shared classroom area, separated by temporary partitions, and split the area into 19 new classrooms and a teacher work area suite. Meeting the owner's desire for durable materials in this demanding education environment the design team used high-impact gypsum board on metal stud framing for the new walls. This project also included new ceilings, and floor finishes, as well as adapting the existing mechanical and electrical equipment to the new layout with new light fixtures and ducts. Overall, the project ended up costing $51/SF.
Working with the owner's desire to not lose any space during the school year the project was designed to have construction occur over the summer months when students would not be in class. Construction started after completion of the spring semester in May 2016 and was completed just ahead of schedule, allowing the owners ample time to re-occupy the space and prepare for the fall semester.
The final building cost of the project is more than 20% under the original budget, both due to a good bid at the outset, and by diligent construction administration, keeping the change orders well within 1% of the overall bid cost.
We thank St Charles Parish Public Schools and Dynamic Constructors for working with us on this successful project, and wish them the best in the future.
Wednesday, June 1, 2016
The Allemands Elementary School Classroom Addition is Substantially Complete
The Allemands Elementary School Classroom Addition has been substantially completed by F. J. Arcement Construction Co. Inc. on May 2nd, 2016, for St Charles Parish Public Schools, in Des Allemands, Louisiana.
This brick-clad, steel-framed, metal stud building consists of 6230 SF of additional built area added onto a 27,000 SF existing building, both all on one floor. The addition contains 4 additional classrooms, including an art classroom, as well as a work room, restrooms, and support spaces. The building cost about $175 per square foot overall.
Construction took 11 Months, since June 8, 2015, and has been substantially completed ahead of schedule. Including the 9 Months of design, the entire length of the project has been 20 months.
The final building cost of the project was within 10% of the original budget, which was helped by finding about 1% of savings via change orders by careful construction administration.
We thank St Charles Parish Public Schools and F. J. Arcement for working with us on the project, and wish them the best in the future.
Wednesday, May 4, 2016
HMS Is Looking To Hire A Summer Intern
HMS Architects is a downtown New Orleans based full service architecture firm with projects throughout the region and country. We are seeking a full time summer intern to join our collaborative team. Candidates should be interested in contributing to and learning about all aspects of building design and construction. Experience with Revit is a must. Graphic design skills, Adobe Creative Suite and website capabilities are pluses.
Please send electronic version of resume portfolio and cover letter to the attention of Keith Steger at studio@hms-pa.com. When contacted by HMS for an interview we may request to see samples of your Revit work to understand your proficiency with the program. Please include in your resume any pertinent extracurricular involvements or organizations.
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