Our design for 2513 Metairie Road is a creative expression of the new zoning regulations. Its shape and positioning derive, in part, from the new code, which calls for a strict ten-foot setback from the street, with parking located behind the building. We maximized the usable floor area and gave the building a signature look by rotating and cantilevering the upper floor, creating a gateway to the back parking lot. The front facade’s oversized windows gracefully meet the code requirement for 70% glazing to provide a brighter and more welcoming streetscape.
Project Team
- Terri Dreyer
- Ian Dreyer
- Kristine Kobila
The building is shaded by the street-facing covered balcony, which helps cool the interior and save on energy costs while providing front-row seats to Metairie's St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
In the lobby, a custom-made folding steel stair seems to float in the soaring double-height space. Built in close collaboration with the client, an expert metalworker, the stair features an elegant handrail supported by thin, rounded balusters bolted directly into the treads — with every third baluster extending up through the rail to tie into the ceiling, elegantly providing structural support. This functional work of art received the Divine Detail Merit Award in 2019 by the American Institute of Architects New Orleans Chapter.
A more understated functional work is the enhanced lateral bracing and the rear mechanical porch that lets the building serve as quite possibly the best-looking hurricane shelter in town.
2513 Metairie Road was built as a proof-of-concept, but it has set a new standard in Jefferson Parish as a model of architectural excellence that shows how creative design solutions can transform a community.
