The original 148,000sf Ponchartrain Motors (later Sewell Cadillac) building, constructed in 1954, was a fine example of low-rise international style architecture in the Warehouse District of New Orleans. Williams Architects teamed with Rouses to transform the former automobile dealership and service building, which had been vacant for 5 years, into a vital downtown grocery store that is in keeping with … Read More

Our renovation of this existing steel and masonry, single story, historic structure at the corner of Apple and Dante Streets provided the owner with a contemporary space for an age old practice. Blighted at the start of renovations, but previously used as a Knights of Columbus hall and neighborhood restaurant, our renovations to the space converted it for use as … Read More

Our dynamic renovation of this historic masonry structure in the Warehouse District provided a unique set of challenges and, ultimately, the kinds of rewarding solutions that we love to conceive and execute. This project thrives on intuitive innovation and utilitarian use of design elements we created, with every light, shelf, counter, and salon station designed to be integral, and to … Read More

The Circle Food Store, at the corner of St. Bernard and Claiborne Avenues, is a registered federal landmark and a New Orleans cultural icon. Originally constructed in 1938, the grocery store was flooded following Hurricane Katrina and the subsequent levee failures. The full restoration and rehabilitation of the historic Circle Food Store structure stayed true to its roots. The store’s … Read More

This former 19th century sugar warehouse, which was once the heart of New Orleans’ Sugar District, is a great example of Williams Architects’ historic/adaptive reuse capabilities. The ONE11 Hotel thoughtfully portrays a balance between the timeless sophistication of so many New Orleans buildings and the industrial history of the building, the French Quarter, and of Southeast Louisiana. The seven-story white … Read More

Touching on the history of the former Charity Hospital as a teaching institution, our adaptive reuse strategy is a dynamic mixed-use development focused on education for multiple generations. The iconic Art Deco exterior will remain largely unchanged, while the interior will be updated to meet the current needs of the building, which include an early learning center, high school, and … Read More

This quintessentially French Quarter structure built in 1795 has been home to the world-renowned Brennan’s since 1954. Our revitalization of this staple of the New Orleans dining landscape, a favorite for both locals and visitors for decades, had to preserve and maintain the authenticity of the original Brennan’s. From the bright and bold Trellis Room, to the stylish bar, to … Read More

Second Line Stages is the first independent, green film studio in the U.S. Located in the Lower Garden District of New Orleans, it leads the commercial revitalization of this historic area and serves as a beacon to Louisiana’s leading role in film tax credits. Our development of the project involved both careful restoration of a historic building and the addition … Read More