Four Seasons New Orleans - Hotel and Facade Renovation
Reimagining Edward Durell Stone's International Trade Mart into the Four Seasons Hotel and Residences.
Category
Commercial
Hospitality
Living
Adaptive Reuse + Modernization
Size 824,783 SF
Location New Orleans, LA
Year 2022
Known as both the International Trade Mart and the World Trade Center, this masterpiece was designed by Edward Durell Stone in 1964 and is now listed on the National Historic Register. TPA meticulously restored the historic façade and first-floor lobby elements while leading the complex historic tax credit process. Transforming this prime example of New Formalism into the Four Seasons Hotel and Residences involved skillfully enhancing lines of sight, accentuating verticality, and seamlessly integrating various programs within the 33-story building.
TPA collaborated closely with Design Architect, CambridgeSeven, and Collaborating Architect, Woodward Design+Build to transform this functional symbol of trade into a modern luxury destination.
Outcome
The redesigned Four Seasons Hotel and Residences embodies the value of preserving and enhancing a historic landmark, offering both architectural and community impact. By carefully restoring the International Trade Mart’s original mid-century elements and integrating modern features, TPA has revitalized this New Orleans icon, ensuring its continued relevance and longevity. The project extends the building’s lifespan, maintains its historic integrity, and reintroduces it as a vibrant, luxurious destination.
For the client, the design maximizes the building’s functional and aesthetic potential, turning it into a world-class hotel and residential hub that attracts visitors and residents alike. The added amenities, such as the observation deck and rooftop pool, elevate the guest experience, while the new five-story podium with restaurants, a spa, and interactive spaces creates a multifunctional environment that enhances both user engagement and revenue potential.
The community benefits from the Four Seasons’ revitalization as a landmark that celebrates New Orleans’ architectural heritage while contributing to the city’s economy. By making the building accessible and relevant to contemporary needs, TPA has created a space that serves as a destination for tourists and a point of pride for residents, reinforcing the structure’s role as an enduring symbol of progress, culture, and design excellence.
Attention to fenestrations was crucial, with a focus on the dramatic glass and steel canopy, entrance portals breaking the base plane, and the replacement of the trellis with a thicker, sloped concrete structure. Custom sealant colors were developed to soften joint lines between precast panels, ensuring repairs blended seamlessly. Louvers on the upper residential floors were strategically placed to preserve sight lines and views, complementing the vertical emphasis of the design.
The iconic office lobby was transformed into a fashionable hotel lobby and bar, featuring new louvered dividers inspired by the building's exterior. Restoration efforts included preserving signature Italian Carrera and Verdi Antique marble finishes, along with bronze elevator doors and frames. The sloped concrete trellis replaced the original design, addressing issues caused by improper construction. High-performance curtain walls replaced existing windows, offering both solar gain mitigation and a nod to the 1960s louvers.
The dark bronze replacement curtain wall reinforced the building base, creating a dynamic entrance and redefining access to the historic lobby.
Awards
Louisiana Landmarks SocietyExcellence in Historic Preservation, 2022
Engineering News Record Texas and Louisiana, Project of the YearBest Project, Renovation/Restoration, 2022