GLC FOOD HUB
This project was designed and built by Cooper Pertchik, Javier Castillo, Amanda Martell, Meghan Schleif, Jonnathan Hall, Luke Gannon, Aliyah Murph, Juliet Hess, Ella Comstock, Ben Derlan, and Emilie Taylor-Welty in partnership with the Growing Local Collaborative, and funded and supported by TuSABE and the Small Center for Collaborative Design.
To see more of the Small Center’s work check out their website: https://small.tulane.edu/
In June 2026, we received the 2026 Rethinking the Future Architecture Award in the Student (built) category.
Program Summary:
An outdoor classroom, farmer’s market space, and shaded workspace for an urban farm with rainwater cachment and a rain garden.
Program Statement:
This pavilion was designed to support an organization focused on urban farming, food policy, and improving fresh food access in New Orleans' Central City neighborhood and beyond. The structure serves multiple functions: an outdoor classroom, a farm support space, and a venue for a weekly farmers market.
The design is guided by the organization's mission to bring people together around food. Water management, repurposed materials, and low carbon impacts weren't just practical choices — they reflect the values of the community the pavilion serves and reinforce what gets taught there. The architectural language draws from the surrounding neighborhood vernacular so the structure feels at home in its context rather than dropped into it.
The result is a comfortable, flexible outdoor space that makes it easier for New Orleanians to learn about food systems, access fresh produce, and connect with one another.
Building Area
470 sqft
Cost per Square Foot
$63.83
Construction Cost
$30,000
Project Completion
August 2025 - January 2026
This project was the focus of my 4th-year design/build research studio. I learned how to budget time and resources, design as a part of a team, and everything it takes to bring a project from paper to reality.
