Did you ever visit the former K-Paul’s building for a drink or a bite? Now is your chance to see it in a completely new light! After sitting vacant for a few years, the Historic New Orleans Collection purchased the building in 2023. Now, it is undergoing a full renovation to become much-needed exhibit preparation and office space for HNOC. The massive renovation has included structural stabilization, a new slate roof, and a new interior layout.
While the previous design served its purpose well, much of the interior was occupied by utilitarian spaces that required window infill, cutting off daylight. The building was gutted down to the studs, window openings were reintroduced, and new window openings were added to make sure that every occupiable space has access to natural light. Providing natural light was a bit of a challenge. As the building sits on the property lines where windows are prohibited, the only opportunities to introduce daylight were through the façade and interior courtyard.
The six-bay brick building was originally two separate buildings, 416 and 420 Chartres Street. Both were built in 1834 and underwent major changes by the 1940s. 416 Chartres went from a four-story building to a two-story building, while 420 Chartres went from a four-story building to a single-story building that eventually had no roof and was used for private parking. The buildings were used for woodworking and storage before K-Paul’s opened in 1979.
In the 1990’s, K-Paul’s owners, the Prudhomme family, combined 416 and 420 into a single building to expand the restaurant. The Prudhommes worked with the Vieux Carre Commission to ensure the original granite columns were retained as well as reintroducing a balcony along the façade.
The current renovation is designed by Trapolin Peer Architects, with Ryan Gootee General Contractors as the general contractor and Rick Fifield Architect as the tax credit consultant.
Beams & Brews offers a chance to view the ongoing construction, hear from the project’s managers, and enjoy free drinks.
The PRC’s Beams & Brews series is generously sponsored by the presenting sponsor, Dixie Construction, our beams sponsor, True Title, with brews provided by Urban South Brewery.
Interested in sponsoring the Beams and Brews series? Contact Kearney Gay at
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Free for PRC members; $10 for non-members.
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