Primary Workspace, a newly opened coworking facility, is a former vacant schoolhouse that underwent a major transformation due to a $3-million boost from the federal government and state historic preservation tax credits.
The 114-year-old Italian Revival building is located within the Gretna Cultural District and Gretna National Register Historic District in Louisiana.
Its interior layout is centered around a two-story auditorium directly accessed from the entrance on the second floor of the building. All that remained of the space was two-thirds of the plaster proscenium arch. Spanning lengthwise through the building are large, historic corridors featuring grand double-hung windows—all restored as a part of the project.
Private offices, conference and meeting rooms, mail rooms, and phone booths are in the center of the floor plan and can be accessed from the historic corridors.
The second-floor entrance, now featuring black-and-white checkered marble tile, leads to a grand split staircase. The common area in the old auditorium space features walnut millwork. The recreated curved stage is lined with a curved cushioned banquette. Existing heart pine flooring was retained as much as possible, though water damage and past renovations had claimed a large portion. Suitable flooring was reused in the showcase spaces and other areas where flooring could not be reused, engineered wood flooring in a walnut finish was installed.
Art Deco motifs are scattered throughout the project to pay homage to the building’s period of significance.
