Public & Commercial Buildings

BKI was a part of the consultant team responsible for the new Adult Detention Center in Jackson County, MS. 

In January of 2014, work began with the placement fill site. The area was raised over seven feet in some places to meet the FEMA flood regulation. Foundation work continued for eight months with the installation of over 800 – 14” diameter auger cast pilings 60 feet deep. These pilings serve as the foundation for the building and support the structure.

The building itself is a 104,000 SF typical metal building with steel columns and beams with metal roof and wall panels.

The facility is broken down into three separate pods that are each in a hub and spoke design with the control room in the center and the inmate day rooms splayed out in a circular fashion. The day rooms contain the cells for inmates. There are 21 different types of cells in the facility ranging from detox and intox cells in the booking area to two and four bank cells in the dayrooms. Each of the cells are prefabricated steel units that were built offsite and delivered as a unit. The contractor then placed the cells in the proper locations throughout the facility and welded them in place. 

In addition to the day room and inmate areas, the ADC is equipped with a fully operable kitchen for food service and laundry facilities for cleaning linens and clothing items. There is a medical area with exam rooms and dental rooms. The facility has video visitation for family and will also have video court arraignment.

One of the most important aspects of this building is that it has been constructed to withstand 150 mph winds. It is also equipped with an 1150KW diesel-powered generator, capable of operating the entire facility in the event of a power outage. This means inmates and staff may shelter in place and will not have to be relocated in the event of a hurricane or other storm events.

BKI provided complete architectural services to convert a three-story, late 1800s plaster-on-brick building into one of New Orleans’ premier new dining establishments, Restaurant August.

BKI renovated the first floor into an upscale restaurant with a bar, dining areas sized for various levels of intimacy, and a new commercial kitchen. The second floor featured a banquet area with its own kitchen. The building also featured an office wing facing Tchoupitoulas St., and two condos on the third floor. The project included renovation of approximately 13,000 square feet plus the addition of a 3,000-square-foot penthouse.

The interior of the existing exterior walls required structural enhancement and architectural renovation. The firm designed the leveling of the floors and the addition of joists as part of a shoring effort. The renovation also included new HVAC and electrical systems, including the upgrading of the existing sprinkler system to meet current code requirements.

The construction cost was approximately $5.7 million.

BKI was contracted by Dryades YMCA to perform the structural design and provide construction administration for the YMCA natatorium and wellness center.

This project designed and constructed a new two story structure (approximately 20,000 square feet) adjacent to the existing Dryades YMCA building in New Orleans, LA. The new building and pool foundation is a pre-cast concrete pile supported structure supporting a cast-in place reinforced concrete slab. 

The second floor is also supported by pre-cast concrete beams with a fiber reinforced concrete topping slab. The structure was constructed as a reinforced concrete structure with cast-in place columns and grade beams and concrete masonry unit wall system. The building roof is a combination of a standing seam roof over a portion of the roof and a built-up asphalt roof over the remaining roof area. The natatorium area will house a 45’x75’ swimming pool with depths ranging from 3’-6” deep to 7’0” deep. The second floor will house a Wellness Center, locker rooms, showers and administrative offices.