The Fieldhouse (2024)
Photos by Henry McCoy
(This is part of a series on the 11 projects designed and built by classes in the Louisiana Tech School of Design at MedCamps of Louisiana.)
MedCamps Executive Director Caleb Seney: As part of our master plan we needed a flat level place to play field games as there was none at Camp Alabama. So we leveled a field, irrigated it, and planted grass. We needed a place to escape the heat, store games and equipment, and we wanted a small “press box” too. Arch335 answered the call. The Fieldhouse is complete with a restroom and has all the shade we need on hot days. It has also become home to our weekly horse riding program provided through our partnership with the Outdoor Wilderness Learning Center’s therapeutic riding program. In its second summer of use we are already expanding the possibilities of the fieldhouse and games field.
Tech Professor Brad Deal: The Field House marked a changing of the guard, with An Le, an alumna of the 2018 Zip Line Studio, returning as a co-instructor. The project delivered about 85 custom trusses fabricated by the students along with complete plumbing and electrical systems all while keeping things playful for the campers. Students did an excellent job repurposing the steel beams and trolleys, blending them with energetic red ribbon elements. Slide open the doors, and the place comes to life.
Program Summary: A new games field and field house for a summer camp for children with special needs.
Program Statement: This project transforms a simple storage need into a playful, energetic hub for summer camp field games. Located at the field’s corner, it utilizes perimeter earthen berms to capture the space while doubling as overflow seating. Inspired by “Ready, Set, GO!”, angular gestures throughout create a sense of movement, beckoning visitors to action. Reclaimed theater beams and trolleys create movable walls, elevating a mundane storage program into a dynamic gathering space with a water fountain, creative gear storage, and a custom rolling island. The floor plan includes secure and open storage areas, a restroom, and a shaded patio. The approach mimics entering a stadium tunnel, building anticipation as visitors ascend the entry slope to emerge onto the field. Sustainability is core to the design: the roof’s playful form is oriented north for extended shading and is fabricated entirely from reclaimed steel from local natural gas drilling operations. Solar-powered lights cast a gentle nighttime glow, when the project is not in use. The project has transformed the accessibility, comfort, and excitement around field games for its special needs users. Pro bono design services, educational labor, and abundant community support kept costs remarkably low for the non-profit client. This Field House doesn’t just store equipment; it ignites excitement for timeless summer traditions, embracing innovative and efficient design principles, without compromising form or user experience.
Project Team:
Professors: Brad Deal, An Le
Students: Cameron Barron, Justyn Brossett, Anna DeSadier, Luis Flores, Gabi Gambill, Coy Gammage, Nolan Gee, Ben McLain, Grace Monk, Kinslei Scroggs, Clarence Smith, Millie Smith, Leyton Spencer, Blayne Springer, Alex St Cyr, Everett Watson, Lillian Woodward, Matt Wright
Recognition: 2024 AIA Louisiana Member’s Choice Awards
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MedCamps programs are completely free of charge to all campers with special needs. If you would like to support future projects at MedCamps, events, sponsor a campers attendance financially or volunteer please visit www.medcamps.org or email info@medcamps.org for more information.
