In November, 2006, The Children's Plaza and Family Center opened at Renaissance Village in Baker, Louisiana. Renaissance Village is the largest FEMA trailer park serving families displaced by Hurricane Katrina with 800 unites housing 245 children under five years old.
The Children's Plaza and Family Center is the first of its kind and likely to become a model for collaborative construction projects for all future FEMA managed temporary housing developments. Our client, Rosie O'Donnell, through her Rosie's For All Kids Foundation, desired a multi-zone, multi-use center for childcare, social and community services and entertainment for the residents of Renaissance Village.
This project demonstrates the positive impact of applying architecture and urban design principles to even the most humble or temporary facilities. The project goes beyond housing functions to creating an atmosphere, a place, an oasis of education, community activity, recreation, and entertainment
