Adaptive reuse of 1900s-era school has grand reopening as co-working space
By Quinn Purcell, Managing Editor
In January 2025, the adaptive reuse of a historic 1911 schoolhouse was completed and transformed into Primary Workspace, a modern coworking and event venue.
Located in downtown Gretna, La., the building had sat vacant for over 50 years. The development was conducted in a public-private partnership between Jefferson Facilities Inc. and Formwork Development, with a focus on bringing new economic opportunities to the historic neighborhood in Gretna, according to a press release by Formwork Development.
Primary Workspace's Historic Interior Architecture
The architecture and interior design team at Studio BKA worked with the Louisiana Historic Preservation Office to ensure the renovation adhered to the Secretary of Interior’s Guidelines for Historic Preservation. The vision for the project was to preserve the building's historic charm while adapting it into a functional 13,000-sf co-working space.
The building's interior is situated around a two-story auditorium, complete with a rebuilt historic proscenium arch and stage. Preserved corridors; double-hung windows; and private offices, meeting rooms, and hot desks maintain the building's grandeur. Primary Workspace includes a boardroom and event spaces for rent by organizations, community groups, and individuals.
“To achieve long-term success for this project, we balanced the care and attention to detail required for the preservation of original architectural elements with the modern construction methodologies and systems that lead to the most durable building success,” says Brett Perrier, Principal, Perrier Esquerré Contractors (general contractor).
Primary Workspace provides membership options for access to shared spaces, dedicated desks, and private offices for company teams. Hot desk memberships begin at $150 per month, while private office leases start at $850 per month. The space also includes a 2,800-sf for-lease retail spot on the first floor of the building, alongside a German Cultural Museum.
“There are countless vacancies in historic neighborhoods that can benefit from exactly this kind of design work in an effort to bring economic success through shared work environments. The most sustainable path for building development is, and will always be, the reuse of our existing buildings like this one," says Kim Payne Allen, Co-founder and Design director, Studio BKA (architect and interior designer on the project).
