Jessica Kennedy Becker, Skip of ‘89

Spotlight on Alumnae Questions

1.  In what ways did your Ursuline education prepare you for the work you’re doing now? 
I was fortunate in that I knew I wanted to be an Architect from a very young age.  While I was at Ursuline I was able to gear my studies towards subjects that would be helpful to my architectural degree.  At the time, Ursuline offered courses such as Advanced Math and Physics, which, looking back, I realize were vital to my success at LSU and thus today.  Mrs. Bishara’s art class certainly helped foster my love of art and nurtured my creative side.  How I loved our days up on the fourth floor painting, drawing and kiln firing our ceramic sculptures.  What a great space.  I’m so happy to know that the fourth floor art room is once again useable by the students.  Actually, the entire campus was inspiration for me.  I love the building with all of its history and character.  How lucky we are to have that beautiful courtyard and chapel.  I think the building is the real reason why I decided to attend high school at Ursuline. 

Today, I very much enjoy working on projects that involve renovating old buildings and homes.  Currently, I am working on a project to renovate an old building in the warehouse district that was long ago a residence but had since been used as a metal fabrication shop.  Soon it will become a market on the street level and a residence once more on the second level.  In the past several years, I’ve worked on residences in the French Quarter and on Esplanade Avenue.  I love to think about the history of the building and who may have used it in the past and I love finding a way to modernize an old building for continued use in our contemporary society. 

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle – right?  

2. Please describe the most significant value you learned from Ursuline Academy. 
Serviam.  I’ll never forget that Ursuline instilled in all of us the importance of serving others and giving to the community.

3. Describe Ursuline in one word.
Nurturing.

About Jessica:
After graduating from Louisiana State University in 1995, Ms. Becker returned to her home town of New Orleans to work for various architectural firms in the area.  Ms. Becker has been licensed to practice in the state of Louisiana since 2002.  Her experience has been varied and includes single and multi-family dwellings, space planning for office buildings, educational facilities, and airplane hangars.  Some of the projects she has worked on include the following:

As project architect for several New Orleans class “A” office buildings, such as LL&E Tower, Texaco Center and Lakeway I, II & III, she designed office space for law firms, accounting firms, computer training facilities, oil companies, internet companies, etc.

While working for Broadmoor Design Group, Ms. Becker was very involved in the design, production and construction administration of Jazzland Theme Park in Eastern New Orleans.  This experience involved a variety of building types from assembly halls, restaurants, retail space, ride queues and a simulator theater. 

Also with Broadmoor she was in charge of the design and production of renovations to 214 existing housing units at the Naval Air Station in Belle Chasse, La.  These included renovations to both single and multi-family housing.  Ms. Becker also assisted with the design and production of 525 new units built on the same base.  She also assisted in completing construction documents for an Army Aviation Support Facility for the National Guard at the Hammond Northshore Regional Airport and the Joe W. and Dorothy Doresette Brown Foundation building on Old Hammond Highway in Metairie.  She also designed an addition to an existing building on the campus of Delgado for Junior Achievement of Greater New Orleans.

In September of 2007, Ms. Becker opened the doors of her own architectural firm, Circlestudio, located in mid-city.  Ms. Becker and her business partner specialize in both commercial and residential architectural and interior design projects.  Circlestudio has completed several residential renovation projects as well as new construction.  Some of these projects have included, the Hyatt Residence in Lakeview, the Radosta Residence and the Montgomery-Martin Residence.  Circlestudio’s commercial projects have included many renovations such as Central Bark Doggy Day Care, Hemmans Insurance Company, and the physical therapy area of Pontchartrain Bone and Joint Clinic.  Partnered with another architectural firm, Circlestudio completed construction documents for the addition and renovations to Abney Elementary School in Slidell, La.  This project is currently under construction.  Circlestudio also repeatedly does work with businesses such as J.P. Morgan Chase, Children’s Hospital and Whitney Bank.