National American Bank Building
| Company type | Commercial building (former bank building) |
|---|---|
| Industry | Banking (historical) |
| Founded | 1928–1929 |
| Fate | Converted to residential use after Hurricane Katrina |
| Headquarters | New Orleans , United States |
| Products | Office space (historical), Residential apartments (current) |
National American Bank Building stands as a 23-story skyscraper reaching 325 feet in height, situated within the Central Business District of New Orleans, Louisiana. Finished in 1929, it gained inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places in 1986. The structure is distinguished by a six-story octagonal tower crowned with a golden Art Deco finial. Positioned at 200 Carondelet Street, it initially served commercial purposes but underwent conversion to residential use following Hurricane Katrina.
Description
Erected between 1928 and 1929 under the direction of Louisiana architect Moise Goldstein, with general contracting by George J. Glover Company, the building’s framework incorporates a steel skeleton combined with concrete and hollow tile construction. Common walls were constructed using brick. The base level is adorned with polished granite, while the upper stories feature a limestone exterior. Atop the 23rd floor sits the six-story octagonal tower, finished with an ornamental finial. Importantly, this was the first building in New Orleans to offer indoor air-conditioning within a public area.
During its late 1980s evaluation for inclusion on the National Register, the interior lobby was noted for its marble cladding and ceiling decorated with gold and silver leaf pressed metal arranged in chevron and diamond motifs. Supporting columns held up the banking hall roof, and bronze materials were employed for elevator doors, panels, and teller stations. The banking hall preserved original chandeliers and walnut paneling.
History
Throughout the twentieth century, banking institutions occupied the ground floor and mezzanine levels, while law offices and various other enterprises leased space on higher floors. By the year 2000, the building had become unoccupied. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, restoration initiatives arose to address the shortage of rental housing units. Completed in 2008, the renovation converted the property into mixed-income residential apartments marketed as "200 Carondelet," financed through a combination of public and private funds.
Since 1991, this building has been recognized as a contributing building within the National Register designation for the New Orleans Lower Central Business District.
See also
External links
- Skyscraper office buildings in New Orleans
- Office buildings completed in 1929
- Art Deco architecture in Louisiana
- Bank buildings on the National Register of Historic Places in Louisiana
- National Register of Historic Places in New Orleans
- 1929 establishments in Louisiana
- New Orleans Lower Central Business District