500 Piety St.

Description: New construction of a six-story mixed-use building on a vacant lot. Massing and design changes to previously-approved five-story mixed-use commercial building proposal.

Staff Recommendations: 

The proposed six-story hotel building at 500 Piety Street is situated adjacent the Rusty Rainbow bridge on the river side of Chartres Street, overlooking Crescent Park. First reviewed by the HDLC Architectural Review Committee (ARC) in 2019, the building's siting, massing, and overall design have developed through several different iterations. As reflected in the ARC's comments and previously proposed drawings below, the project has experienced maturation throughout this process. Although the design reviewed in March 2022 received ARC recommended approval, massing alterations at the roof top that effectively created a six-story, required additional review and comment by the ARC. Review of these changes began in July 2023 and have continued throughout the latter months of this year. Throughout that time, the focus remained on the massing of the fifth and sixth floors as well as three-story steel frames at the eastern and western entrances. At the September 19, 2023 meeting, the ARC agreed that the easterly-facing entry frame should be reduced to two-stories, but that the westerly-facing frame could remain at it proposed height. At the October 17, 2023 ARC meeting, the Committee agreed that the reduction in height and massing of the fifth and sixth floor were successful. However, a standing recommendation that the proposed steel frame at the eastern elevation be reduced to two stories in height could not be agreed upon. The October meeting for 500 Piety Street ended in a no action vote after the ARC could not come to a consensus on the inclusion of the three-story framed metal entry. The vote was two (2) yeas to one (1) nay. 

The applicant is petitioning the Commission to make a determination regarding the proposed steel framed entry at the easterly-facing entrance. The trepidation of ARC members stems from the standpoint that a three-story frame attached to the building at this elevation visually competes with the Rusty Rainbow bridge. The October ARC proposal included a reconfiguration of the eastern elevation to move the entry (and three-story frame) approximately 30'-0" from its original location, closer to Chartres Street. This shift also centered the entry on the existing parking lot. The applicant's request is grounded in the need for space to display public art; a theme integral to the conceptual design of the building. Although it remains undetermined, the proposed three-story steel frame will be the host of some form of suspended artwork. Because the ARC could not make a full-consensus recommendation, Staff leaves the decision at the discretion of the Commission. 

• Recommendation: At the discretion of the Commission. 

ARC and Commission Review Timeline: 

• June 2019 first ARC meeting.

• March 2022 ARC recommended approval.

• April 2022 CMM ratified ARC approval on consent agenda.

• December 2022 submitted final drawings for review but drawings did not incorporate ARC recommendations and Staff requested additional revisions.

• Submitted revised drawings that altered the massing of fifth and sixth floors which required ARC re-review and was on the agenda of the July 2023 meeting.

• Was deferred at the July and September 2023 ARC meetings. ARC comments were only related to the reworked massing at the fifth and sixth floors as well as the framed entries at the east and west elevations.

• October 2023 ARC meeting – no action due to 2-1 vote

  • The ARC agreed that the proposed revisions to the fifth and sixth floors were successful

  • Could not agree on the size of the easterly-facing metal frame at entry – if it should be 2 stories or 3.

Previous ARC Recommendations: 

10/17/23:

• The ARC agreed that the reduction in height and massing of the fifth and sixth floor were successful but could not come to a consensus on the inclusion of the three-story framed metal entry at the left-side elevation. 

09/19/23:

• The fifth and sixth story massing still reads as aggressive over the lower brick portions of the building. This massing could be resolved by altering the interior program at that area, or by incorporating additional metal framework elements at the fifth floor, continuing that language already expressed on the ground floor to visually “lighten” the overall massing. 

• The steel frame at the easterly-facing entry should be reduced to two stories in height and the entry piece at the westerly-facing elevation could be three stories.

07/18/23:

• Although the new massing of the sixth-floor roof-top portion of the building does read as more aggressive, it is successful in incorporating the previous exterior stair. The easterly-facing elevation at this area needs additional fenestration rather than the proposed blind openings. 

• This condition could potentially be achieved through matching the condition shown at the westerly-facing elevation. 

• The bulk of the bathroom facing Chartres Street at the roof-top could be reduced by lowering the ceilings as much as possible. 

• The metal canopy entrance structure at the easterly-facing elevation should match the two-story height of the same structure at the westerly-facing elevation. 

03/22/22:

• Explore options to lighten the edges of the perforated screens at the top of the colonnade at the first floor level. 

• Upriver/right-side elevation colonnade to terminate into a condition other than grass. Continue the paving or ramp to this area to achieve that. 

• First floor should read more as a storefront with more transparency. This condition could be achieved by continuing the pilasters from above to the ground level and adding glazing between. 

• Penthouse roof top area reads as an additional story. To achieve a more successful setback condition on the Upriver/right-side elevation, move the curtain wall to be behind columns rather than flush with the edge. The ARC approximated a 5’ setback for this area. 

02/15/22:

• The use of brick and overall articulation presented a deviation from a clean industrial appearance to a decorative overly stylized building. Utilize more contemporary uses of brick for precedent. 

• Use a more cohesive design approach for the prominence of the site itself. Overall, the building might be too massive for the site. 

• Potentially move the building away from the bridge and locate parking on either side to give space between the existing bridge and the proposed building. 

• The penthouse no longer reads as such and presents as an additional two stories on the box form of the main building. The flush glazing at this area should be pulled back 6-8’ from the exterior wall. 

• The change in size of side elevation windows, diminishing the ratio between glass and brick, is an unfavorable revision. 

• Lessening the amount of covered outdoor space is viewed as a negative. 

07/23/19:

• Remove cast stone horizontal banding throughout project.

• Develop column and handrail details.  The columns appear to be too spindly for the mass of the building.  This is a major design element and needs to not be generic.

• The parking lot side entrance shading device is not successful.  The element should be functional for sun control and not read as upside down handrails.

• Add height to the punched openings and develop divisions and operability.

• The shade structures on the roof terrace should be altered such that they do not exist over enclosed building spaces.  The shade structures should move away from the East side of the building to be more prominent on the West side of the building.  

06/18/19:

• Landscaping, specifically a row of trees on the Eastern side near the bike parking, seating areas and lobby entry.

• Make the East walls of Tenant 1 and Tenant 3 more operable to directly connect and engage the public pedestrian traffic.

• The site of this building is unique in that it is adjacent to one of the most iconic pieces of public art in New Orleans.  The building needs to respect and compliment the pedestrian bridge to Crescent Park.  Specifically, develop the details of the galleries on Chartres St façade which is currently depicted in a very generic way.  Draw materiality and articulation of elements from the immediate context, specifically the public riverfront park, pedestrian bridge, and industrial aesthetic.  The galleries should be utilized as the sculptural element of the building as its scale and placement put it in direct dialogue with the unique context.

• The stairwell on the Chartres St side of the building should follow the stepping back of the building per the zoning requirements.  Utilizing this as an architectural device should be explored.

• Replace the cable guardrail surrounding the mechanical units with a solid parapet wall of the same material as the wall below.

• Remove horizontal banding aesthetic of floor slabs to emphasize the verticality of building elements.

• Clarify the disparate elements on the east elevation – bring glass wall of vertical circulation element out, modify canopy at lobby entrance to become an autonomous element, add pilasters to brick wall to emphasize these elements.

Context Photos:

Elevation Comparison Over Time:

Current Drawings:

Previous Drawings - 10/2023:

Previous Drawings - 09/19/23:

Previous Drawings - 07/18/23:

Previous Drawings (Received ARC Approval) - 03/22/22:

Previous Drawings - 02/15/22:

Previous Drawings - 07/15/2019:

Previous Drawings - 06/07/2019:

Street View: