Global architecture firm Perkins+Will has created a waterfront building for a research organisation in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, that is designed to remain fully functional during floods.

Founded in 2011, the Water Institute of the Gulf is a nonprofit organisation that conducts research focused on water systems and coastal communities. Its new headquarters is located on the banks of the Mississippi River, next to a historic dock that once played a key role in local trade.

While designing the new facility, Perkins+Will ? a US-based firm with offices around the globe ? drew upon the region's maritime heritage.

"The building's all glass and steel aesthetic pays homage to the area's freight industry, where ocean-going vessels off-load heavy cargo onto barges to be transported upriver or onto rail for inland shipment through Baton Rouge," said the firm in a project description.
The wedge-shaped building sits atop a concrete pier that rises 35 feet (10.6 metres) above the water. The elevated position enables the building to withstand seasonal flooding, which can leave the shoreline completely submerged.

"The building was designed to sit above the maximum anticipated flood line," the team said. "While the water rises and submerges the surrounding landscape, the building remains accessible and fully functional."

Rectilinear in plan, the building has glazed walls that offer extensive views of the water. Draped over the building is an angular shro...