Poydras Offices
Spring 2022 | Instructor: Matt Decotiis
This office building proposal, located on Poydras Street in downtown New Orleans, is shaped by its immediate urban context and a desire to create memorable experiences for both pedestrians and office users. Central to the design is a meandering plaza that slices through the site at street level, drawing the public into a more human-scaled environment—an intentional contrast to the surrounding corporate landscape. A striking mass hovers above, loosely echoing the plaza’s footprint. What appears as a dynamic architectural gesture on the exterior becomes a moment of celebration on the inside: users are treated to bright, open spaces with outward views, a large experiential stair, and an event space that shows off massive structural trusses. The interlinking element can be imagined as a pair of arms gently hugging the workplace, a moment of relief amid the rush of the workday.
