The new Living/Learning Commons at Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts provides housing for 360 students and support staff at Louisiana’s Blue Ribbon boarding school. Connection and openness are at the core of this design. From the large front porch and plaza to the double-height and campus living room, the student commons then extends into a series of study and gathering spaces that treat social and academic needs with equal weight. The space culminates with a student lounge, outdoor porch, and fire pit.
These residence halls are organized into 10 “neighborhoods,” where students live in four-person suites, with nine suites to a neighborhood. The Hall Commons in each neighborhood is suited for sharing a meal or hanging out, while the glassed-in study lounges maintain quiet for focus. Each neighborhood also features laundry facilities as well as an office and apartment for the Student Life Advisor.
Other features include a demonstration kitchen, a multi-purpose room, and a Health Services Suite. The new Living Learning Commons opened in August 2021 for the fall semester. In 2023, Fortune magazine included LSMSA on its list of World’s Best Boarding Schools.