The historic McDonogh 19 school site in New Orleans is being renovated into a Civil Rights museum that will also contain 25 affordable apartments for senior citizens. Despite its significance as a Civil Rights Landmark for being the first integrated public school in New Orleans, the school has remained boarded up and vacant since Hurricane Katrina.
The former Elementary School, now the Tate Etienne & Prevost Center, in partnership with Alembic Community Development, received city, state and national funding, including a grant from the National Park Service, New Market Tax Credits, to cover the $16 million cost of the renovation.
When to Use AcoustiStep Flooring Underlayment
The three-story mixed-use Italian Renaissance building underwent an exploratory demolition process, in which the historic hardwood floor was attempted to be maintained. Where unsalvageable, the remaining 18,000sf utilized a new LVT finish with Commercial Acoustics’ 2mm thick AcoustiStep sound control underlayment beneath it.
Benefits of Sound Underlayment in Historic Renovations
AcoustiStep is a versatile recycled rubber underlayment available in a range of thicknesses (2mm, 3mm, 5mm, 10mm, and 12mm) depending on the target IIC/STC. The Architect specified the thinnest option — 2mm thick — which still provides an IIC rating of 60 on 6” concrete with a ceiling below and LVT finish on top.
Flooring underlayments are often required in historic renovation projects. Commercial Acoustics installed Floor Blokker soundproofing underlayment at Armature Works in Tampa. The large dining hall used to be a train station, and is now filled with restaurants and event spaces.
