TREY TRAHAN
Principal, Trahan Architects
Baton Rouge, LA

Provide an educational background including professional experience.

I received my Bachelor of Architecture from LSU in 1983 and interned with two local firms before opening my own practice with a partner in 1987. Then, in 1992 I formed Trahan Architects to specialize in high-end design.

Why did you choose LSU for your education?

I had a great interest in studying the architecture of Louisiana and particularly how history, culture and a distinctive landscape have informed design in our state. Because we live in such a culturally rich and diverse state, I felt a deeper knowledge and exploration of Louisiana architecture would serve as a strong foundation for my own personal design philosophies.

How did your LSU degree help to prepare you for your profession?

The background and knowledge that I received enabled me to explore the world of architecture and helped me to develop my own design philosophies that I am able to incorporate in my firm’s designs on a daily basis.

What current or past research and projects/exhibitions have you done?

I am very proud of all of the projects that we have been involved with, but St. Jean Vianney and Holy Rosary are probably the two most recognized and awarded projects. They have been exhibited and published throughout the world. More recently we were honored to have been chosen to design a residence for Brad Pitt’s Make It Right project in New Orleans’ Lower Ninth Ward.

Some exhibit examples are:
“After the Flood”—Architecture and Design Museum, Los Angeles.
Regional Modernism—Ogden Museum of Southern Art, New Orleans.
American Architecture Awards— The Chicago Athenaeum.
The Architectural Review Awards for Emerging Architecture—London.
International Biennial “Barbara Cappochin” Architecture Prize—Italy.
Fondazione Frate Sole International Award for Sacred Architecture—Italy.
International Conference on Catholic Architecture—Italy.
AIA National Conferences in Philadelphia, Chicago and Las Vegas.

Please list any awards or special recognition that you have received.

Our work has been honored with three National AIA Honor Awards, four American Architecture Awards and the Architectural Review Emerging Architecture Award, where we were one of only three firms in the world to receive the award and the only US firm honored the year we won.

Wallpaper Magazine named Trahan Architects one of the 101 Best Emerging Architecture firms in the world and the Concrete Reinforcing Steel Institute awarded our design of Holy Rosary Church the Grand Award in its national Design Awards Competition.

We have won three international design competitions in Beijing, China, where we competed against the top design firms in the world and we have been honored to receive numerous regional, state and local awards. On a personal level, I was named to the AIA College of Fellows at the age of 45 for contributions to the advancement of architecture in the area of design.

What are your plans for the future?

I continue to seek architecture that is current with contemporary architectural pedagogy and explore unique design strategies that employ digital and sustainable design technologies. I am committed to investing in and utilizing digital design software and additive/subtractive formation technologies that form a conducive work environment with an appeal to enthusiastic young employees.