The project executed in DeLisle was the most ambitious effort of The Design Workshop since its inception 11 years ago. In The Design Workshop, a group of students work collaboratively with a non-profit client to design, detail and ultimately construct a project, overseeing all aspects of an architectural project from design concept through to final execution.




In the 2006 spring semester, students worked with David J. Lewis, the Director of the M.Arch program to collectively research and design the 39751 InfoWash, traveling twice during the semester to Mississippi to meet with the client and members of the community. At the conclusion of the spring semester, the students executed a complete set of construction documents, assembled material orders for the project, and worked with structural engineer and faculty member Harriet Markis to establish the structural drawings.



Composed of two volumes connected by a covered breezeway, the southern side of the building is sheltered by a deep overhanging roof, while a translucent polycarbonate northern wall provides ample daylight to interior spaces and allows the building to glow at night. A panelized wood slat screen attached to aluminum straps wraps both the opaque and translucent walls tying together the program elements while adding a degree of warmth and familiarity to the expression of the facades. Western red cedar was chosen as the primary exterior material because of its resistance to insects, its workability, and its natural weathering characteristics. Combining elements that address the short-term and long-term needs of the community, 39571 InfoWash attempts to offer residents a return to normalcy and provide much needed services once taken for granted.



During the summer, the students had the opportunity to work and learn from Terry Erickson who plays a critical role for The Design Workshop in insuring that the students are able to translate their designs into built form.

The students lived in DeLisle in FEMA trailers and were on the job site from 6am to 6pm nearly every day to see the project completed by the end of August, 2006. During that period, the group erected the steel structure by hand, installed structural panels and waterproofing, built and insulated the roof, clad the building in aluminum mesh and stained Western red cedar, and outfitted the interior spaces with custom built interior furniture and wall systems.














By early fall of 2006, the building was in operation housing a 24-hour laundromat and the offices of an organization that provides rebuilding assistance to local residents. The simple task of washing one’s clothes thus provided immediate relief while easing community members into the long and complicated process of reconstruction. Because of its program and context, 39571 InfoWash has a responsibility to provide a physically and psychologically sheltered realm, while at the same time projecting an open and inviting presence to its community.

Left: Students of Parsons The New School for Design at work designing and constructing 39751 InfoWash (click here for hi-res image)

Location: DeLisle, Mississippi
Client: Mississippi Katrina Fund
Total Square Footage: 2,000 sq ft

Related Links:
Parsons The New School for Design
SHoP Architects

Images & Text: The Design Workshop, Parsons The New School for Design