1. Locatedin Houma,Louisiana,Lagniappe Village is the ideal community for those who wish to reside in
an engaging, affordable community for like-minded seniors. Lagniappe (lan-yap) is taken from Cajun
culture meaning“something given gratuitously,” or a little something extra; be it a second piece of pie
or a gift from a stranger. Our intent is to provide residents of both the Village and Houma with a little
something extra that fosters livability, accessibility, and mobility in the contemporary amenities of
Lagniappe Village.
Situated in Terrebonne Parish, Houma is the largest city of the Houma-Bayou-Cane-Thibodaux
Metropolitan Statistical Area. It was named after the historic Native American tribe of the Houma
people, and the United Houma Nation Tribe is recognized by the state of Louisiana. In 2010, 33,727
people resided within the 14.2 square miles city area (U.S. Census). Houma is swiftly shifting some
demographic characteristics, within fifteen years the population in Terrebonne Parish will grow old.
Phase 3 of Vision 2030: Terrebonne’sPlan forits Future projectsthe 65+ age cohort to grow by 51%. This
group will be an increasing segment of the total population from growing 11% in 2010 to 16% in 2030
(p.3-2).Anagingpopulationwill require creative housingthatmore thanadequatelyservicestheirrange
of needs, and Lagniappe Village will provide that niche.
PURPOSE AND INTENT
Lagniappe Villageisatangible reflectionof the Cajun’singrainedsenseof hospitality and good will. The
new site design intends to provide a little something extra to the residents and the surrounding
community. It features a 209,115 sq. ft. residential village with 253 units flanked by two distinct
courtyards, two rooftop terraces, and an outdoor recreational area. [JS1]
Demolition of the existing Bayou Towers was motivated by its aging structure (mechanically and
aesthetically), it overwhelming height, and its inefficient orientation and use of space on the site.
Currentlythe 11-storytowers’positionandheight cause a large shadow on the surrounding residences
and was built with inefficient and now outdated systems and hazardous materials.
Lagniappe Village will employ several innovative approaches in the new design of the site. Design is
centered on three main buildings oriented north to south. To increase connectivity, yet maintain a
distinctaesthetic,twosmallerbuildings will join the main structures together forming an “S”-shape. A
collection of materials and colors will be utilized to create a neighborhood-feel that is rhythmic and
homey.Off-whitesiding,red brick, and an olive green flat stucco incorporates a hint of French Quarter
style tothe village.Thissite designismotivatedbytwo reasons, foremost, breaking up the units, while
maintaining some connectivity will foster a sense of a neighborhood surrounding rather than the
impersonal feel of a continuous structure. Second, the glowering height of the existing towers did not
mesh into the surrounding neighborhood landscape. Now, by reorienting the site east to west along
West Park Avenue, the height of buildings will step backward, away from the road, with the shortest
building in front. Our intention was to blend the masses into the residential area, as opposed to
confrontingasingle massive building.Now,sunshine will be capturedinanumberof ways: morning sun
inour hard-scapedcourtyard,eveningsuninoursedentarygarden,andcontinuouslight on our 4th
floor

2. terraces.Unitswill nowsee more natural lighting,as well, with the readjustment of the structure to an
east-west direction.
FEATURES
RESIDENCE. Most important in designing a senior living community is to account for the movement,
mobility,andrange of an aging person. Interiors of the buildings are designed with special features to
facilitate the residents.Innovativeergonomicdesignswere createdforthispurpose.Unitswill featuresa
decorative chair rail that functions as a handrail and easy access showers. Kitchens will contain only
lowercabinets,thatare above knee height (to ease bending) and shallow shelving that will extend no
taller than shoulder height (to ease reaching). Door pulls will be low-resistance levers, and the walls
paintedina soothingcolorpalette.All units will also feature a private balcony. ADA specific rooms are
also included, with carefully designed bedrooms and bathrooms. Central corridors will contain sitting
areas and gathering rooms for additional social space.
Our firstbuilding reaches six stories, the center building is seven stories, and the last building is eight
stories. Two connecting buildings will run north to south at four stories tall. Lagniappe Village’s site
design meets the required space for a multi-family building containing up to three hundred dwelling
units with a building footprint at 40,580 sq. ft. (25%), non-permeable surfaces excluding building
footprintat 47,500 sq. ft.(29%), and the total building footprint and non-permeable surfaces at 88,080
sq.ft. (53%).The village meetseveryqualificationlaidforth,asdemonstratedinthe additional material.
Furtherapproval of locationandsite planof the non-denominational chapel,outpatientmedical center,
and stormwater retention pond is contingent on the local Planning and Zoning Board.
Centeredinthe village,the middle buildingwill have a9,480 sq.ft. greenroof.Greenroofs,asdescribed
by Energy Star, “provide shade and remove heat from the air through evapotranspiration, reducing
temperatures of the roof surface and the surrounding air.” This roofing will also reduce energy
consumptionas“greenroofsabsorbheatand act as insulatorsforbuildings,reducingenergy needed to
provide cooling and heating.” Additionally, the visual and environmental diversity can have positive
impacts on community and psychological well-being.
OUTDOORS. Creating two separate courtyards was central to the design vision. One, a hard-scaped
plaza,facesthe adjacentstreet(ScottLane) witha landscapedenclosureusing native low shading trees
and bio-swales. This plaza is intended to be a more “active” area featuring seating, outdoor dining,
proximity to the in-house gym and communal dining. Space is intended to encourage interaction in a
semi-public venue (residents only). The second courtyard is a “passive” area in a garden setting
featuringlocal artist sculptures, lush landscaping, and sitting areas. It is located adjacent to communal
library and reading room, nooks, and art class spaces. Additionally, rooftop terraces on connecting
buildingswill serveasa semi-publicgatheringspace withcoveredandnon-coveredseating,connectivity
between buildings, and natural landscaping.
The “backyard” of the village will be transformed into a recreational area open to the public. It will
include a meditation pavilion, a non-denominational chapel and an exercise trail that connects to the

3. neighboring park. These facilities intend to improve and maintain the overall health of the village’s
residents. Along the Joie de Vivre Exercise Trail will be LifeTrail exercise machines, ergonomically
designed specifically for people ages 50+. Created by Playworld Systems, it was “developed in
collaboration with American Fitness Professionals Association (AFPA) Functional Fitness Certified
kinesiology and gerontology specialist … includes 21 activity panels built on the premises of fitness:
progressivelychallengingexercisespatterned after the twists, turns, and movements of everyday life”
(PlayworldSystemwebsite).An open-airmeditationpavilionwill be located in the northwest corner of
the site to provide a space for meditation and exercise with a pergola for shading. A non-
denominational chapel will be locatedonthe southeastportionof the openrecreationalarea.Itsdesign
is an entirely windowed space, entrenched in landscaping to create a setting that is organic and
appropriate for any faith. Additionally, it will have a passive cooling opening in the ceiling in order to
mitigate the heatduringthe summer.A communitygarden will create aninteractive space forresidents
and will reduce the community’s urban footprint through the creation of a local food system. All
amenities are provided access by a meandering path that encompasses the entire area.
WATER MANAGEMENT. In accordance with Terrebonne’s Vision 2030 of filtering stormwater runoff,
this site will manage stormwater on site. A slightly sloping elevation in the center of the back yard
createsan onsite retentionpondforstormwatermitigation.A non-stepwalkwaybridge will be designed
over the pond and to intersect the trail at two points. Vegetated surface facilities, such as bio-swales,
bioretention cells, and stormwater planters will be added along the Joie de Vivre trail and the site to
bettermitigate the stormwater.Furtherconversationwiththe PublicWorksDepartmentwill be done in
order to facilitate all stormwater management.
ENERGY AND UTILITIES. Each buildingwill provideatrash shootand local waste managementtruckswill
be provided with access into the parking lot from West Park Avenue to a designated area where the
main dumpster will be enclosed. Building practices were chosen in accordance with the United States
Dept.of Energy’sHot-Humidclimate zonedesignation.Insect-,rot-,andmolding-resistantmaterialswill
be used. ENERGY STAR approved appliances and mechanisms will also be used.
FINANCE
In order to finance the construction of Lagniappe Village several grants, bonds, loans and tax credits
were explored. BasedonRSMeans calculations,the total project cost, before leveraging techniques, is
$24,840,000.000. Mortgage Insurance for Rental Housing for the Elderly: Section 231, an opportunity
available through HUD, will ensure mortgage loans to facilitate construction. Through the US Treasury
Enterprise Community Loan Fund may be used to provide access to long-term capital for the project.
The BuildAmericaBondaddressesissueswiththe existingtax-exemptmarketbyprovidingthe state and
local governmentswithanew,directfederal payment subsidy for a portion of their borrowing costs on
taxable bonds.BABsprovide a deeper federal subsidy to state and local governments (equal to 35% of
the taxable borrowingcost) thantraditional tax-exemptbondswhichleadstolowernetborrowing costs
for state and local governments.Also,low-incomehousingtax creditscangenerate equitycapital forthe
construction of Lagniappe Village.

4. Conclusion
Lagniappe Village reflects the hospitable character of the people of Houma, and provides residents of
both the Village and Houma with a little something extra. Innovative design will pair livability,
accessibility,andmobilitywhilemeetingappropriate buildingpracticesforHot-Humid climate zone and
special ergonomicfeaturesandamenitiesthatmeetandexceedADA requirements.A new designof the
site and structure will provide residents a sense of a neighborhood surrounding rather than the
impersonal feel of an apartment complex.