Prevot Design maintains the personal touch

In 2005, Mark Prevot (with his wife Paula’s blessing and help) left the comfort of working for someone else to accept the risk of going solo.

“I made a list for myself of things I thought might potentially happen if I went on my own,” Prevot said. “When I looked at the list, I felt like there was enough meat on that bone where I could probably make a go of it. So, I decided to give it a shot. My phone started to ring once the word was out that I had left and was on my own. … A lot of my relationships came through and paid off.”

Fast-forward, and Prevot Design, which now employs 12 people, is enjoying its 20th year in business. But that first year — that first week — was a little dicey.

“One of my big clients that I thought I would have, they were bought out by a national corporation, the day I was setting up a meeting, the first week I was in business. That was a stunning piece of news to hear literally over the radio while I was heading down to a meeting (with them) in South Louisiana. But when I got to the meeting, they said, ‘Oh, no, we’re good. We’re probably going to have more work after this.’”

The company has gone on to design a variety of projects, including churches, schools and banks. It’s that variety that the 58-year-old finds refreshing.

“There’s always something you’re learning, some new angle or some twist on a project. You get to try new things. I’ve worked for firms that specialized in one type of work, and it got a little stale to me. You become an expert at it, and that’s fun, but you keep doing the same thing all the time. I had these other interests in my mind that I wanted to try.”

Like residential work, in which Prevot Design has become heavily involved.

“We really like how personal it is. It’s very personal when you work with a client on a custom home. It’s a lot deeper dive than a commercial or an institutional project. It’s been fun to see their homes come to fruition, and they’re just so excited. It’s been a very rewarding experience.”

But Prevot insists his company will not stray from the type of projects it’s thrived on for the past two decades. That includes designing churches, an exercise which is very close to Prevot, who is Catholic.

“A church is such an important building. … The things that happen in a church are the big moments in people’s lives — a wedding, a loved one’s funeral, weekly services or daily services. It has a big impact on a lot of people and their lives. If it can help them, if our design can help somebody feel connected to God, or have a better experience during a moment in their life where they could be having a difficult time, and a church can be there in a moment to bridge them getting through something difficult, then that’s just worth all of it. It’s just such an important structure. And they’re long-term structures.”

Prevot Design has two large-scale projects on the drawing board. One is the renovation of the old Sears building at Mall St. Vincent. It will be a research center for LSU Health Sciences Shreveport. Another is turning Shreveport Police Headquarters, built in the 1950s, into an up-to-date, more functional facility.

Prevot Design has been tasked wih renovating the old Sears building at Mall St. Vincent into a research center for LSU Health Sciences Shreveport.

“It’s a difficult project in terms of when you try to use an existing, older structure, and respect the original architecture of that structure, and accomplish a modern building, and satisfy the programmatic needs of your client. It’s a challenge, but a fun challenge.”

Part of the challenge involves Prevot finding out precisely what the people who will work in the building need so they can do their job.

“Part of our task is that we are the day-to-day interface with all those officials, officers and detectives. We are the ones who have to try to bring order to this process and deliver to them a building that will serve them into the future and accomplish their goals within a budget. And it’s a tight budget. We’re working as creatively as possible to try and accomplish this within the budget and within a timely manner.”

One of Prevot Design’s projects was the Bossier Parish Library.

Prevot Design can also add a personal touch to residential design.

Prevot Design has become heavily involved in residential designs and custom homes.

Designing churches is an exercise that is very close to Prevot.

Will Prevot Design be around to celebrate its 40th anniversary? Despite advances in his field that are less personal, Prevot is convinced there will always be a place for humans.

“I think automation, like what you see in other lines of manufacturing with AI (artificial intelligence), is definitely going to play a big part in the future of architecture and design. I do think a lot of the buildings that can be built and mass-produced with AI and manufacturing-type facilities will take over a percentage of the market. I’ve told all our young people to be prepared for this and look ahead for it, but I think there will always be a need for talent, skill and knowledge. As long as we’ve got that going for us, we will have a place somewhere.”

To learn more about Prevot Design, you may visit prevotdesign.com.