The Marks-Rothenberg Building Renovation by Pryor & Morrow Architects, part of the Riley Center project in Meridian, MS. Project Architects Roger Pryor and Christopher L. Cosper. Photo by Don Beard.
Firm: Pryor & Morrow Architects
Year: 2006
Project: $10.0 million adaptive reuse of a 60,000 SF department store into a modern conference center and support spaces for the Grand Opera House.
My Role: Project architect, responsible for the interior design and daily management of the project; worked closely with Roger Pryor, who served as partner-in-charge and designed the exterior portions of the project, and Angela Shelton, an interior designer.
Program: Provide conference meeting space and support functions (restrooms, vertical circulation, HVAC, and life safety systems) for the Grand Opera House; coordinate work with architects of the Grand Opera House, Martinez Johnson Architects.
Interior of Marks-Rothenberg lobby.
Interior of neighboring Grand Opera House, designed by Martinez Johnson Architects. Photo by Don Beard.
The Marks-Rothenberg project presented numerous structural challenges. We opted to replace the existing heavy timber structure with structural steel, because of code-mandated loads and for fire safety.