Somdal Associates is celebrating a century in business with an exhibit of drawings and photographs showing the firm’s storied history of building design at the Louisiana State Exhibit Museum during the month of March.

The exhibit will include historical documents of many of the structures designed by the firm through the past 100 years. The firm was founded in 1908 by Edward F. Neild, who rose to national acclaim as an architect through his designs of public buildings, particularly courthouses. His career spanned nearly 50 years and included locally prominent buildings as well as consultation on the White House renovation in Washington D.C. during the Truman administration and the design of the Truman Presidential Library in Independence, Missouri. Dewey A. Somdal joined the firm in 1923 and helped establish a practice that designed virtually all school buildings in the area prior to 1950, many fine residences, hospitals and office buildings. Somdal was also instrumental in Shreveport’s first master plan effort and designed many prominent structures in the city including the Civic Theatre, Shreveport City Hall and the Beck Building. In all, the firm has been led by twelve different partners over the past century.

The exhibit at the Louisiana State Exhibit Museum, which was designed by the firm in 1937, will include documents, renderings, maps and sketches telling part of the story of Shreveport’s built history including obscure, one-of-a-kind projects and presentations of some of the firm’s most recent work. The exhibit will also give some insight into the changes in society and technology through looking at the documents included in the display.

The exhibit begins March 19th and runs through April 18th in the West Wing of the Museum. A reception will be held on March 18 at 5 p.m. at the Museum.

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