The vision for the Water Institute Headquarters, Research & Interpretive Center is inspired by the mission of the Institute, its location, its connections to Baton Rouge and the Mississippi, and the constraints of its unique setting. This simple structure’s image and purpose is defined and inspired by water, with a “Waterspout” at its center.

To create an unprecedented public space on the river, the building is lifted off the historic Old Baton Rouge City Dock. Public amenities are placed at dock level, where visitors can engage with outdoor interactive elements, visit the café, and enjoy panoramic views of Port Allen and the river. The design reflects the dock’s previous use as a transportation hub where oceangoing vessels, barges and railcars all crossed paths.

Collaborators

Project Architect: WHLC Architecture
Structural Engineer: SCA Consulting Engineers
Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing Engineer: Associated Design Group
Sustainability Consultant: INSPEC
Landscape Architect: Stoss Landscape Urbanism
Civil Engineer: Evans-Graves Engineers
Geotechnical Engineers: Southern Earth Sciences