It has been an exciting 100 years for the Shreveport Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, and its members invite the public to join them in remembering all of the years.
AIA Shreveport members are currently planning to celebrate their centennial in 2025 by hosting an inaugural exhibition at the Meadows Museum of Art, 2911 Centenary Blvd, from September 2 to November 26. An exhibition preview is scheduled for Friday, August 30, from 5 to 7 p.m.
Franco Zaragoza, principal of the Shreveport architectural firm Newman Marchive and president of the AIA Shreveport for 2024, has been in the midst of planning for months. During the planning process and in the two years he has lived in Shreveport, he has come to appreciate the local architectural history.
“We’ve curated something that I think is going to be quite wonderful,” he said. “We’re surrounded by great beauty and wonderful history that I think we take for granted. Over the next year, I’d like to encourage the discussion that there was great architecture and we can still create great architecture locally.”
The main exhibit, “Celebrating Shreveport Architecture – 100 Years in the Making,” forced local AIA members to distill 100 years of the region’s architecture into an exhibit that fit into a space far from large enough to accommodate all of the accomplishments. That effort was no easy feat, Zaragoza said.
“It was challenging. When you look at the exhibit, it’s the creation of multiple members. I had input from most of the chapter members. It really created this dialogue and conversation that had never happened before,” he said. “There was a great dialogue and energy that I’ve never seen in this chapter since I’ve been here.”
Zaragoza said the exhibition took shape through dialogue and planning.
Conversion of the lofts at 624 Texas in 2016. The building was once the Sears department store in downtown Shreveport.
Upon entering, he said, visitors will see a large picture of downtown Shreveport and some of the historic buildings that still exist today.
The next few lines state: “It will be a collection of many of the historic buildings we know so well, and perhaps some we don’t. There will even be a section of notable works not yet realized, and a discussion of the mastery and artistry of the profession.”
Also included is a “Triumphs and Tragedies” section, featuring notable buildings that have been brought back to life or lost. In addition, around a dozen member companies will be represented with their own exhibitions.
“It will be a very diverse collection – a rough overview of the events of the last 100 years,” he said.
The second-floor hallway will feature an area that will highlight the sculptures and paintings of architect Bill Wiener Jr., as well as some of his family’s artwork, Zaragoza said.
It’s called ‘Welcome to Bill Wiener’s world, immerse yourself in his thought processes,'” Zaragoza said.
From October 26 to November 26, visitors can also watch the documentary film “Unexpected Modernism: The Wiener Brothers Story” in the museum’s Project Space Gallery.
All exhibitions are free and open to the public and are just the first of many more planned for 2025, Zaragoza said.
