■  For 94 years, the Krauss Department Store grew to be one of the largest retail establishments in New Orleans . Two 6-story buildings with bridges at every level were converted to condominiums including several penthouse units with private terraces overlooking the Central Business District and the French Quarter. Major structural modifications were made to the building to introduce 5-story light-wells in the center and the addition of a mezzanine parking level. The conversion design includes a formal drive-through leading directly to the large lobby and a multi-level rooftop swimming pool/terrace with spectacular city views.

■  The design concept allowed the original building’s materials and wood structure to be the focus of the interior spaces. The new architectural elements were kept simple and modest. Although, the floor area was divided into individual offices, all occupants have views upward and outward which celebrate the historic building. New partitions were kept low and glass clearstories were added over offices. Wood beams were installed between existing columns. Original historic parts of the building such as the sliding fire door at the stair and the bi-fold service elevation door were allowed to remain as non- functioning elements of the interior design.

■  Metairie Country Club designed by our predecessor firm, and was built in 1924. It has undergone several renovations since then. Extensive flooding and roof damage occurred from Hurricane Katrina and has since been demolished, redesigned and, now is being reconstructed. The original building is being re-stored to its 1924 grandeur. Mathes Brierre Architects was selected to design the “new” Club, which consistes of restoration of the 1924 portion and the and additions around this centerpiece. The pools and tennis courts have been relocated, while the gym was expanded.

■  ‘Mother’s Next Door’ and the expansion to the existing dining room are the first renovations to the historic New Orleans restaurant which originally opened in 1938. It was important in the design to preserve the feel of the existing space. The adjacent warehouse, originally a tobacco warehouse with open shafts and hand operated elevators, has become an extension of the dining room. The warehouse next door – ‘Mothers Next Door’ – was designed to be a 290 person capacity banquet hall for private parties and events. The exposed brick and plaster trim have been preserved in order to provide an aesthetic consistency with the existing restaurant.

■  The National World War II Museum chose to convert an existing pre-engineered warehouse building within the complex into a new facility to house the extensive restoration of an historic WWII Motor Torpedo Boat, PT-305, built at the Higgins Industrial Plant in New Orleans. It was also decided that the boat would be visible to museum visitors during the entire restoration and would be showcased there upon its completion. The Restoration Pavilion had to be designed to allow for the boat to be removed and transported off site multiple times. A large glass facade with 25' high removable unitized curtain wall panels was created to allow for the movement of the 75' long boat and for visitors to view the progress of the restoration.