In the heart of New Orleans’ historic Bayou Road/7th Ward neighborhood, a former 1938 parish hall has been transformed into a vibrant hub for creative learning.

Completed on February 6, the KID smART Center for Arts & Education represents more than a renovation — it’s a homecoming for a building returning to its original purpose and a bold vision for the future of arts integration in New Orleans.

Since 1999, KID smART has brought joyful learning through the arts to more than 80,000 students and educators throughout Louisiana. The nonprofit works in area public schools to reach underserved children in many different ways, including deploying teaching artists into classrooms to co-plan and co-teach the arts in partnership with teachers. KID smART offers year-round professional development for educators and hosts events to engage local families and community members.

Now, with a permanent 10,730-square-foot home, the organization will more than double its impact, growing from serving 3,200 to 8,200 individuals annually.

“We believe in joyful learning for all ages,” said Elise Gallinot Goldman, executive director of KID smART.

The building’s transformation was guided by architectural firm EskewDumezRipple, with Principal and Director of Interior Design Jill Traylor leading the project. Construction began in August 2025.

“There’s something especially meaningful about returning this historic building to its original purpose as a place of learning,” she said. “Seeing it come full circle is incredibly rewarding.”

The design challenge was multifaceted — to transform a historic structure into a flexible learning environment supporting everything from quiet individual work to energetic performances while also serving as KID smART’s headquarters.

“From the start, our goal was to transform a current office building (also built in 1938) into a joyful, flexible home for arts-integrated learning,” said Traylor.

Six creative studios comprise the center, including two visual arts studios, a performing arts studio, an innovation studio, a dance and movement studio, and a podcasting studio. Each space was designed with specific programmatic needs while maintaining cohesion.

“Color has a remarkable ability to tell a story, guide us through spaces, and create an element of surprise and delight,” said Traylor. “Likewise, the absence of color can provide a canvas for self-expression and engagement.”

The strategic use of color became a defining element of the project. Drawing from KID smART’s branding, the design team used color to differentiate spaces and support wayfinding, particularly on the second floor, where classrooms are color-coded with matching acoustic baffles.

“The history of the building as the parish hall for St. Rose of Lima Church meant that there were already gorgeous light-filled classrooms occupying the second floor,” said Goldman. “Our team from EDR worked with us to figure out the best use of each space, and the results are magnificent.”

Throughout the center, playful moments like colorful stair risers, vibrant transoms and trim are paired with neutral backgrounds, allowing student artwork to become the primary visual focus.

“Ever since I saw her TED Talk, I’ve been really drawn to the work of Ingrid Fetell Lee on the aesthetics of joy,” said Goldman. “I shared her talk with everyone working on the building, and I think you can really see how some of the elements of color, shape and surprise have been woven into the design.”

The innovation studio, which has been designed to feel more like a lounge, features couches, flexible seating and workstations.

“[It will be] used for creative writing, digital media, brainstorming sessions, and most importantly, it will be the home base for our Bloomberg Arts Interns — a growing cohort of high school students who do paid internships at arts and culture organizations throughout the city,” explained Goldman.

Meanwhile, community spaces reinforce KID smART’s vision as a neighborhood hub. A reception gallery welcomes visitors while doubling as an exhibition space for student work. The community kitchen and coffee and snack bar were intentionally expanded to support events and informal gatherings.

“We want folks to feel welcomed from the moment they see the building, before they even walk through the door,” said Goldman.

A key feature of the architecture and interior design is accessibility.

“Universal design — making the space inherently accessible and usable by all people to the greatest extent possible — is one of the guiding principles not just of our space design, but of our teaching design,” said Goldman.

As an example, the team installed an elevator to provide full access to second-floor studios.

“We focused on creating welcoming, legible spaces that support a wide range of users,” said Traylor. “Generous corridors, transparent storefronts and visual connections between spaces help create a sense of openness.”

Professional development remains at the core of KID smART’s mission. Conference rooms and flexible training space — with movable furniture, large screens and tackable wall space — allows for collaborative learning among teachers.

“Our teacher training has always been incredibly interactive — we want teachers to experience the learning we want for their classrooms,” said Goldman. “Teachers will not only learn in the training space but also have small-group workshops in the studio classrooms.”

The design team used neutral backdrops and open layouts to ensure the building could be altered without major renovations, prioritizing long-term adaptability.

“We approached the center as a flexible framework rather than a fixed solution,” said Traylor. “Studios, classrooms and offices are designed to be reconfigured as programming evolves, while infrastructure is organized to support future technology upgrades.”

For Goldman, the building represents both a culmination and a beginning. After more than 25 years of transformative work, KID smART now has a permanent foundation to expand its vision of joyful learning through the arts.

“To me, the most important aspect of arts integration, and all arts learning, is the creative thinking skills that are developed,” she said. “Working with the arts helps us be flexible problem-solvers, better communicators and more expansive thinkers. These are skills for life, not just the classroom.”

Quick Look

Number of years in operation: 27
Square footage: 10,730 SF
Number of Employees: 22
Persons in Charge: KID smART: Elise Gallinot Goldman, Executive Director; Architecture & Interior Design: EskewDumezRipple; EskewDumezRipple Design Team Members: Jill Traylor (Principal-in-Charge), Regina Davis (Project Architect/Project Manager), Aidan Taylor (Designer), Matt Kymes (Architect & Construction Administration)
Initial Brand Development: Through the EDR Day of Service
Art and furnishings: Furniture from AOS, arts from a long list of artists who have supported KID smART throughout the years, starting with Co-Founders Allison Stewart and Campbell Hutchinson, and artists Clifton Webb, Ron Bechet and John Scott
Salas O’Brien – Civil, Structural, & MEP Engineering
AOS Interior Environments – Office Furniture Provider
Ryan Gootee General Contractors – Contractor