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Two boutique hotels, retail and restaurant space become an anchor in the revitalized Central Business District.
Impetus (formerly Palmisano) worked with the Domain Companies to redevelop a four-building complex under the Ace Hotel brand in New Orleans’ Central Business District. The work included the renovation of three of New Orleans’ landmark office buildings and one four-story new addition. Two of the historic office buildings were converted into full-service boutique hotels: The Ace Hotel and Maison de la Luz. A third historic building on the 600-block was converted into a two-story restaurant, Seaworthy.
SIZE OF PROJECT
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OWNER
Domain Companies
LOCATION
New Orleans, LA
ARCHITECT
EskewDumezRipple+
TYPE
Renovation & New Construction
INDUSTRY
Retail & Hospitality
The nine-story, 192,000-square-foot building at 600 Carondelet Street in Downtown New Orleans received a complete overhaul to make room for the 234-room Ace hotel. Including an elegant restaurant, music venue, living room bar, and rooftop pool. The previous home of Max Barnett’s furniture store, this 1928 Art Deco building’s exterior was restored to its historic condition by installing historic replica windows, recessing the entrance, and adding awnings and a black-and-red neon hotel sign over the main hotel entrance.
A modern, four-story 56,000-square-foot addition now sits next to the 136,000-square-foot historic building, and houses public event spaces, trendy retail, Stumptown Coffee Roasters, an art gallery, and additional guest rooms.
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GUESTROOMS
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Domain Companies has worked with Impetus on several construction projects, and they consistently provide to be a true partner. Impetus exhibits a long-term perspective for client services and quality construction, and their work on this hotel project has once again raised the bar.
MICHAEL GLENBOSKI, DOMAIN COMPANIES
Maison de la Luz is a 55,000-square-foot, 67-room boutique hotel located in New Orleans’ Central Business District. The property was originally used as a city hall annex and most recently as a law office.
The space features a guest-only entrance, breakfast room, “speakeasy” lounge, and back-of-house services in addition to the building’s new stormwater management systems under the guise of a secret landscaped entrance. Bar Marilou, the hotel’s singular public space, is housed in a former law library turned ornate hotel bar that is accessible through a side entrance, separate from the main lobby. Lavish guest rooms throughout the hotel can be accessed via the original grand staircases or two modernized elevators.
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GUESTROOMS
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Impetus’ Seaworthy project turned an 1830s row house into a modern restaurant space while preserving the architectural integrity of the structure.
The site is composed of two structures; a three-story row house, and a two-story service wing. The transformation of the spaces into a quality dining venue posed design challenges based on the necessity of accommodating equipment and meeting modern building codes.
This 180-year-old building — boasting a full-length bar with custom millwork and wall mounted vintage slate sinks — was preserved to bring a diverse selection of oysters from around the continent to New Orleans, one of the oyster capitals of the world.
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As a renegade in the construction industry, Impetus once again sought to challenge tradition and set new standards for this project, even as the design evolved and expanded. Our team collaborated with a trusted group of long-time partners to address the challenges that arose from this complicated blend of historic renovation and new construction. The result of this collaboration is a series of beautiful, functional spaces delivered on-time and on-budget.
At Impetus, we believe seamless collaboration not only strengthens our relationships with our partners, but also instills a sense of shared ownership in the mutual success of the project. Together, we can eliminate uncertainty, delays, cost overruns and compromises.
Whether it’s a spirited atmosphere, notable cuisine or calm respite, this thriving corridor provides a truly authentic experience for visitors and locals alike. By converting historic buildings into some of the best hotels and restaurants in the city, Impetus has set an anchor for revitalization on Carondelet Street in the Warehouse District. We’re paving the way for innovative expansion and renovation in the city — building a better world one block at a time.
