353 Carondelet
The historic rehabilitation of 353 Carondelet transforms a circa-1850 commercial building for Fidelity Bank while restoring its significant 1958 Mid-Century Modern façade. Completed utilizing historic tax credits, the project preserves the building’s distinctive black porcelain enamel and aluminum exterior while adapting its interiors for contemporary banking, offices, and shared workspaces.
About the Project
353 Carondelet is a circa-1850 commercial building originally constructed as part of Union Row, a block-long collection of historic buildings in downtown New Orleans. In 1958, the building was dramatically transformed with a Mid-Century Modern slipcover of black porcelain enamel panels and aluminum windows. Decades later, that transformation was itself recognized as historically significant, adding another layer to the building’s architectural history.
The historic tax credit rehabilitation restored the deteriorated Mid-Century Modern exterior while adapting the building for Fidelity Bank. Porcelain enamel panels and windows were replaced, new glazing increased natural light, and underlying structural and water-infiltration issues were addressed while maintaining the proportions and character of the 1958 design. Inside, retail banking, executive offices, and shared workspaces were reorganized around contemporary needs, allowing a building shaped by nearly two centuries of change to remain active and useful.
