Back to all projects

1239 St. Thomas Mixed-Use Building

Project Overview
Royal was selected to complete construction drawings for the 4,500 square foot, two-story mixed-use building in the Lower Garden Historic District of New Orleans. This project included office space on the first floor and a short-term rental unit on the second floor. The building structure included a pile-supported elevated slab, timber framed construction, and open-web wood trusses. The exterior envelope included Hardie V-groove siding, aluminum windows, storefront entries, and a low-slope TPO membrane roof. The design included a translucent covered light-well and decorative metal railings throughout.

Project Work and Royal Solutions
The developer requested that Royal take an existing schematic design and value engineer the project to be within budget. The revised design required approval from the Historic District Landmark Commission; however, the developer preferred a more contemporary feel. The resulting modern design referenced the historic neighborhood through similar proportions and materials in a contemporary fashion including Hardie V-groove siding, large windows, tall ceilings, and a long narrow footprint. With the result, we were able to trim down the previously approved schematic design into a clean monolithic block with punched openings and voids.