Place St. Charles

Place St. Charles is a prominent mixed-use skyscraper at 201 St. Charles Avenue in the Central Business District of New Orleans, Louisiana. Completed and opened in 1984, the 53-story building rises approximately 645 feet, or 197 meters, making it the second-tallest building in both New Orleans and Louisiana. Its scale and location place it among the most recognizable commercial properties in the city, although it is principally an office and retail building rather than a consumer-facing hotel brand. The tower occupies a historically significant site associated with the St. Charles Hotel. The first hotel on the site opened in 1837 and was destroyed by fire in 1851. A second hotel was built in 1853 and burned in 1894, while a third St. Charles Hotel opened in 1896 before being demolished in 1974. Place St. Charles therefore represents a late-twentieth-century redevelopment of a site with a long connection to hospitality and central New Orleans commerce. The building was designed in a postmodern style by Moriyama & Teshima Architects, with The Mathes Group, now known as Mathes Brierre Architects, serving as local architect. Its exterior combines granite and glass. One of its most distinctive architectural features is a series of French Quarter-inspired balconies on the lower three levels along St. Charles Avenue, linking the tower's modern high-rise form to the architectural language of the surrounding historic district. The property has a mixed-use layout. The first two floors provide approximately 58,000 square feet of retail space, including restaurants, a hair salon, a ten-station food court, and a Chase branch. Levels three through thirteen are used for parking, with access from Gravier Street. Levels fourteen through fifty-two contain office space. An elevated walkway connects the building with an adjoining Hampton Inn on Carondelet Street, expanding the property's practical relationship with nearby hospitality and commercial uses. Place St. Charles is owned by St. Charles Place, LLC, while Corporate Realty leases the property. Major occupants have included Capital One, JPMorgan Chase, Jones Walker LLP, and Energy Partners. The building also serves as the headquarters of Capital One's retail banking division. Its tenant composition reflects the role of the property as a centrally located office hub serving financial services, law, energy, and related professional activities. The tower experienced a significant resilience milestone during Hurricane Katrina in August 2005. It was reported to be the least damaged major high-rise in New Orleans and reopened by the middle of October that year. This recovery helped preserve its function as an operating downtown commercial property during a period when much of the city faced extensive disruption. Place St. Charles remains an active New Orleans office, retail, parking, and landmark property.

Place St. Charles stands on a site whose commercial and architectural history is closely tied to the St. Charles Hotel. The first hotel bearing that name was constructed in 1837, but it was destroyed by fire in 1851. A replacement hotel opened in 1853 and likewise burned in 1894. The third St. Charles Hotel was built in 1896 and remained on the site until its demolition in 1974. These successive hotels made the location an established part of New Orleans's hospitality and downtown identity before the later transition to a modern office complex. The current tower was developed as a late-twentieth-century commercial project and opened in 1984. Moriyama & Teshima Architects designed the building in a postmodern style, with The Mathes Group, now Mathes Brierre Architects, acting as local architect. The design uses granite and glass and incorporates French Quarter-inspired balconies on the lower three levels facing St. Charles Avenue. This combination of a tall contemporary tower with references to local architectural forms gave the building a distinctive presence in the Central Business District. The completed building contains 53 stories and reaches approximately 645 feet. Its lower floors were planned for public-facing and support functions, while the upper portion accommodates offices. The first and second floors contain about 58,000 square feet of retail space, including restaurants, a salon, a food court, and a Chase branch. Levels three through thirteen provide parking, accessed from Gravier Street, and levels fourteen through fifty-two are office floors. An elevated walkway connects the property to an adjoining Hampton Inn on Carondelet Street. Over time, Place St. Charles has housed major financial, legal, and energy-sector tenants. Capital One, JPMorgan Chase, Jones Walker LLP, and Energy Partners have been identified among its largest occupants. The building also functions as the headquarters of Capital One's retail banking division. Ownership is attributed to St. Charles Place, LLC, while Corporate Realty leases the property. A major test of the building's operational continuity occurred during Hurricane Katrina in August 2005. Place St. Charles was described as the least damaged major high-rise in New Orleans and reopened by mid-October. Its relatively quick return to service distinguished it from many properties affected by the storm and reinforced its importance as a functioning downtown commercial asset. It remains an active mixed-use property, combining offices, retail, parking, and an architectural landmark role in New Orleans.

• 2005

  Building reopens after Hurricane Katrina

  [1]Place St. Charlesen.wikipedia.org

  After comparatively limited damage during Hurricane Katrina, the building reopened by mid-October.

• 1984

  Place St. Charles opens

  [1]Place St. Charlesen.wikipedia.org

  The 53-story, 645-foot postmodern mixed-use tower opened in downtown New Orleans.

• 1974

  Third hotel is demolished

  [1]Place St. Charlesen.wikipedia.org

  The third St. Charles Hotel was demolished before redevelopment of the property.

• 1896

  Third St. Charles Hotel opens

  [1]Place St. Charlesen.wikipedia.org

  A third hotel bearing the St. Charles name was built on the site.

• 1894

  Second hotel destroyed by fire

  [1]Place St. Charlesen.wikipedia.org

  The second St. Charles Hotel was destroyed in another fire.

• 1853

  Second St. Charles Hotel is built

  [1]Place St. Charlesen.wikipedia.org

  A second hotel was constructed on the historic site.

• 1851

  First hotel destroyed by fire

  [1]Place St. Charlesen.wikipedia.org

  The original St. Charles Hotel burned down.

• 1837

  First St. Charles Hotel is built

  [1]Place St. Charlesen.wikipedia.org

  The first St. Charles Hotel was constructed on the site later occupied by Place St. Charles.

A landmark, centrally located mixed-use commercial property combining high-rise offices, street-level retail, parking, and connections to nearby hospitality facilities in downtown New Orleans.

• Office property · 1984

  Place St. Charles office tower

  The principal offering is high-rise office accommodation across levels fourteen through fifty-two of the tower. The property serves major corporate and professional tenants, including financial-services, legal, and energy-sector organizations. Its location on St. Charles Avenue places tenants in the Central Business District, while the building's retail podium, parking levels, and connections to nearby hospitality facilities support daily office use.

• Retail and food service space · 1984

  Retail podium

  The first two floors contain approximately 58,000 square feet of public-facing commercial space. Uses identified for the podium include two restaurants, a hair salon, a ten-station food court, and a Chase branch. The retail component gives the property activity beyond its office tenants and connects the tower to the surrounding downtown pedestrian environment.

• Parking facility · 1984

  Structured parking

  Levels three through thirteen are dedicated to parking, with access from Gravier Street. The multi-level facility supports office tenants, retail visitors, and other users of the downtown property. Its integration into the tower's lower and middle levels is part of the building's original mixed-use design.

• 2005

  Operational reopening after Hurricane KatrinaOther

  Background

  Hurricane Katrina disrupted New Orleans in August 2005 and damaged many buildings across the city.

  Action taken

  Place St. Charles resumed operations by mid-October after sustaining comparatively limited damage.

  Aftermath

  The rapid reopening preserved the building's role as an operating office and retail property during the city's recovery.

  Source

• 1984

  Development of a mixed-use skyscraper on the historic hotel siteOther

  Background

  Following the demolition of the third St. Charles Hotel in 1974, the site was redeveloped as a major downtown office, retail, and parking complex.

  Action taken

  The development created a 53-story postmodern tower with office floors, retail space, structured parking, and a connection to an adjoining Hampton Inn.

  Aftermath

  The completed property became one of New Orleans's principal commercial high-rises and remains the city's second-tallest building.

  Source

• 2005

  Place St. Charles reopens after Hurricane Katrina[1]Place St. Charlesen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  Place St. Charles sustained comparatively little damage among New Orleans high-rises during Hurricane Katrina and resumed operations by mid-October 2005.

• 1984

  Place St. Charles opens as a major New Orleans skyscraper[1]Place St. Charlesen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The 53-story Place St. Charles opened at 201 St. Charles Avenue, introducing a major postmodern office and retail tower to the New Orleans Central Business District.

1. 1Place St. Charlesen.wikipedia.org