An interview with David Spicuzza, Architect for the Town of Abita Springs
I have been living and working as an architect in Abita Springs for 12 years. For the last 5 years I have happily donated my time as an architect performing work and serving on the Abita Springs Historic District Commission. One of the projects has included participating in the master planning efforts for the town park. Our Mayor, Louis Fitzmorrris, has been the visionary of this effort, and particularly, renovating the historic Pavilion, a 140 year-old, World’s Fair remnant that the town acquired some lifetimes ago. Our mission was to add handicap accessibility to this iconic structure so that all members of our community and visitor’s could enjoy this piece of history.
The two most important concerns regarding this project were cost and appearance. The town had no money to waste and it was important that any construction appear complimentary to the design and style of the pavilion. We needed a contractor that understood our town’s character, could give us the best bid, and could deliver the aesthetic quality we needed. Southern Homes proved to be an excellent choice. The Historic District Commission had been familiar with their reputation from their many projects in and around the area.
Both Former Mayor Bryan Gowland, the Construction Coordinator on this project, and myself had a great experience with Southern Homes. They were first class professionals all around. We had an excellent field superintendent named Steve Jennings. He was always on top of things and was proactive in making suggestions to improve the project. I was also impressed with how flexible he was to make adjustments throughout the project. That type of attitude reflects well of the overall customer-focused position of Southern Homes.
The completed project was a beautiful Handicap Access Tower with an elevator, built adjacent to the Pavilion and connected by a walkway. The work was done with excellence and was a really satisfying achievement for the whole town. And not only that, it has been well received as an addition to the community and has been the focus of many compliments. Without a doubt, we would consider working with Southern Homes for future town projects. In fact, I look forward to it!
