Gravier

614 Gravier | Central Business District - New Orleans, Louisiana

Historic Preservation + Reimagined Space in New Orleans CBD

When acquired in 2013, the site sat vacant; historic millwork was missing, brick needed repointing and interiors gutted. The clients performed extensive research to date and restore the site without compromising its historic integrity. Based on historic evidence, it was concluded the building was erected in the 1840’s as two abutting, nearly identical, four-story, brick warehouse structures.

The structures were first used as tobacco and cotton warehouses. The riverside structure remained vacant for most of the 20th century, while the lakeside structure served as a jewelry shop from the 1960’s-2011. The upper floors remained mostly vacant and ground floors had a variety of commercial uses including law offices (1880’s-1940’s) and furniture supply (1920’s-1940’s). As seen in the faded letters “EDISON BUILDING” painted on the facade, it was once one of the nation’s first Edison phonograph shops/fire-prevention supply depots.

The meticulous renovation came to completion in 2019, and today serves as a four story mixed-use space. Retaining as much historic material as possible, if not reused in the bones of the building, original fabric was incorporated into the finishes. Character defining materials remain including brick and wood floors, plastered and exposed brick walls and wood ceilings. The faded exterior painted moniker for Edison was retained; and interior architectural remnants such as the early 1900’s freight elevator. The buildings once again bustles with life nearly 180 years later.

The building received a 2019 Louisiana Landmark Award for Excellence in Historic Preservation.

The four-story abutting buildings were reimagined into a mixed use development.

  • First Floor:

    • Natural Wine Bar

    • Coffee Shop

    • Blackbox Theatre

    • Courtyard

  • Second Floor:

    • Law Office

    • Conference room

    • Individual offices

    • Executive office

  • Third & Fourth Floors:

    • Apartments

Exterior Facade

In order to preserve historic details on the exterior facade, the faded Edison painted moniker, a later 19th century tenant was retained. Existing granite, masonry, downspouts and fire exits remained in tact. Paint was removed from granite columns, bricks and steel fire escape.

First Floor

  • Natural Wine Bar

  • Coffee Shop

  • Blackbox Theatre

  • Courtyard Overflow Space

Demolition included:

  • Removing existing concrete slab and excavating soil to new finish floor elevation

  • Removing existing safe, stairs, sections of walls

  • Removing column covers to expose and restore original existing cast iron columns

All while maintaining existing finishes and materials where possible to keep existing building intact. Restructuring the floor for mercantile / assembly occupancy.

Second Floor

  • Law Office

  • Conference room

  • Individual offices

  • Executive office

Demolition included:

  • Removing existing mezzanine level

  • Removing existing stairs

  • Removing sections of the wall

  • Removing floor joists and flooring for new openings

All while maintaining existing finishes and materials where possible to keep existing building intact. Restructuring the floor for business occupancy.

third + fourth floor

Demolition included:

  • Removing sections of the wall for window openings

  • Removing part of the wall connecting the two buildings

  • Removing existing stairs

  • Removing floor joists and flooring for new openings

All while maintaining existing finishes and materials where possible to keep existing building intact. Restructuring the floor for residential occupancy.

The existing roof joists and roofing were removed and completely renovated. Including:

  • Interior vaulted ceilings

  • Asphalt ceiling roof

  • Mechanical platform

  • Wasco skylights

  • Bilco roof access hatch

  • Continuous gutter with TPO wrap, sloped to existing downspouts on exterior walls

  • Replacing existing leaders and downspouts