May & Ellis

In the heart of the French Quarter, a mixed-use renovation enlightens new, dynamic purpose for a centuries-celebrated furniture store.

Category Commercial
Living
Adaptive Reuse + Modernization

Size 41,573 SF

Location New Orleans, LA

Year 2016

Opportunity

May & Ellis, occupies two adjoining buildings that once served as furniture warehouses for Hurwitz Mintz. With large, deep floor plates suited for display and storage, the structures—one dating to 1860 and the other to 1908—had been vacant for nearly a decade before their transformation into modern residences and ground-floor retail. The project, which successfully leveraged state and federal historic tax credits, required close coordination with the Vieux Carré Commission and an innovative renovation strategy.

Strategy

To meet modern code, the design carved vertical lightwells through each structure—introducing natural light, enabling a centralized circulation system, and creating fire-separated egress paths. These five-story voids also concentrate mechanical and service runs, freeing the perimeter for flexible residential layouts.

A reverse gradient finish within the wells reduces shadowing and enhances perceptual brightness at the base. Combining the two buildings into a single lot of record allowed new windows above the lower roofline, further increasing interior daylight.

Restored timber framing, painted blue to match exterior accents, anchors the new work in its historic context. Masonry repair, window restoration, and original ceiling finishes contrast with contemporary interiors designed for clarity and comfort.

Outcome

The restored May & Ellis buildings deliver a purposeful contemporary contribution to the French Quarter. While honoring the block’s legacy and aesthetics, the adaptive-reuse project delivers elevated housing stock and street-facing retail, contributing to the area’s economic revitalization and community.

Since the lightwells reduced occupiable space, we proposed a restrained penthouse addition to recover square footage. Their placement and volume met Vieux Carré Commission guidelines, which granted a rare variance thoughtful balance of restoration and intervention.

Construction

Awards

AIA New OrleansAward of Merit, 2018

Louisiana Landmarks SocietyAward of Excellence, 2017

AIA Gulf States RegionHonor Citation, 2017

ABC New Orleans, Bayou ChapterExcellence in Construction Award, 2016

The Team

Peter Trapolin

Blake Kidder