Already individually landmarked and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the one-story former benevolent hall and church was named to the National Trust for Historic Preservation's Top 11 Most Endangered Historic Places list as of 2023.
In partnership with the New Orleans Preservation Resource Center, Holy Aid and Comfort Spiritual Church owner, Reverend Harold Lewis, is advocating for support to save the church and return it to use. Cushing Terrell accepted the project through its pro bono program, citing cultural and architectural significance as motivation.
"The Holy Aid and Comfort Spiritual Church has been through so much," said architect and lead designer, Mia Kaplan. "As designers, we thrive on opportunities to use our experience to transform the world in a thoughtful way. Reverend Lewis is a dream client who knows the impact that preserving and reopening this church will have on the community — we are honored to roll up our sleeves on this one to preserve a cultural treasure."
Despite its poor condition, the Spanish Mission Revival-style church retains many historic features on the street-facing portion of the structure, including the primary façade, windows, wooden lap siding, and interior details. Schematic designs produced by Cushing Terrell demonstrate a plan to secure and rehabilitate the existing building components as well as provide the vision for a new community center addition that will expand onto the adjacent lot to accommodate a kitchen, meeting room, and outdoor gathering space. The addition is designed with sensitivity to the existing historic context. It maintains natural ventilation, utilizes native plantings, and embraces southern regional design strategies that make it feel at home in the historic Seventh Ward.
About Cushing Terrell
Cushing Terrell was founded in 1938 on the belief that integrating architecture, engineering, and design opens the doors for deepened relationships and enhanced creativity. This foundation continues to define the firm and its multidisciplinary team today. With 13 offices across the United States and services spanning 30 disciplines, the team works collaboratively to design systems and spaces that help people live their best lives and enjoy healthy, sustainable built environments. Learn more at cushingterrell.com
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