Mussafer Hall by studioWTA

Located on Tulane University’s historic Gibson quad, Mussafer Hall combines a renovated early twentieth-century brick structure with a modern limestone addition.

Mussafer Hall is the 23,000-square-foot home to Tulane's Center for Student Success, which unites the University's Academic Advising and Career Services programs. It also unites Tulane's original dorm, a 1902 Dutch-Renaissance building, and a striking modern expansion. The contrast between the buildings isn’t just outside. StudioWTA divided the historic Academic Dormitory with a double-loaded, glass-walled corridor lined with advisor offices — all with windows looking out toward campus. With stairwells reposed as light wells, its spaces are infused with natural light. The addition, on the other hand, houses large adaptable spaces —used for classes, conferences, and public events— wrapped in an expansive storefront that makes the Center an inviting addition to the Quad.  

To get the scoop on the building’s two very different window systems, we spoke with studioWTA Partner Julie Babin.

Acelab: Tell me a little about how the windows impact your design for Mussafer Hall. 

Julie: It’s all about natural light. The university really wanted windows in every single private office, where the staff will be spending most of their day.

Acelab: Well, you really delivered on the natural light. Are the windows operable as well? 

Julie: They’re not. That was a big discussion. People were divided. The people who would be using the buildings wanted windows, but the facilities team didn’t. Every building on campus that has operable windows has moisture and humidity issues. People leave windows open all the time. This project was aiming for a goal of LEED silver—ultimately it got LEED Gold—and they essentially decided to use fixed windows for mechanical reasons. But there was a lot of conversation surrounding that.

Acelab: So there are two main elements of this project: the renovation of the historic building and the contemporary addition. Tell me about the windows you used in the historic building.

Julie: We discussed, at length, the value of restoring the windows versus replacing them. We wanted to restore as much as we could to keep the original fabric intact. We also thought it would help with the LEED rating. But the old chain-operated windows were just too badly damaged. Termite damage mostly. This being New Orleans, termites are always a concern. So that was a big factor. We also had to factor in impact rating, which is required by city code. If we kept the windows, we’d have to seek a variance or install impact film, which doesn't always look very nice. 

Ultimately, we proceeded with an all-wood historic replica replacement window. The new windows provide better thermal performance and impact resistance. They were also cheaper. We used yellow cedar, which has the extra benefit of being termite resistant.

Acelab: Were there any major challenges detailing or installing those windows? 

Julie: The existing building was certainly challenging because it was a 1902 brick structure. And so all the openings are slightly different sizes. There was a lot of field verification. Almost every opening was different. We had to design thicker trim work in some cases to hide inconsistencies in the brickwork. It wasn't too difficult, though. We used Dynamic, which specializes in historic applications. They could pretty much do anything.

Acelab: For the addition, were you trying to complement the replica windows in any way? 

Julie: The addition was really about doing something new. We wanted the two buildings to be distinct, with the new construction representing the present moment.  That was the basic thinking that inspired us to use a storefront system. However, on the ground floor, we did incorporate a contemporary take on historic New Orleans shutters. There’s a multi-use room that needs to function as a classroom, meeting room, event space, and more — all with different lighting and privacy needs. So we developed a custom triple-track sliding shutter using Normandy Shutters.

Acelab: Were there any special considerations for detailing or installing those storefronts?

Julie: It was pretty straightforward compared to the historic building. We did try really hard not to have any downspouts on the front of the building. But because of the geometries of the building and the needs of the program, we ended up with a terrace that had to be drained to the front. So, we developed a design to conceal the downspout in a thickened mullion that empties into a rain garden at the front. The rain garden also serves as a stormwater management strategy for both LEED and the City of New Orleans.

Acelab: What about the glazing? Were you able to use the same glass in both buildings?

Julie: The storefront and the wood windows are different manufacturers. And the glazing is different, but we didn’t want it to read differently. We wanted to get the glass to look consistent across both buildings. So we reviewed a lot of samples to get as close to a match as possible. That was a bit of a challenge, but I think it turned out great.

Thanks to Julie Babin and the studioWTA team. Read more about Mussafer Hall and all their projects at studiowta.com.

This interview was conducted by ADvsCOPY for Acelab. It has been condensed and lightly edited.

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