Nine decades after it was originally built to service the city’s needs, the historic headquarters of the former New Orleans Public Service Inc. (NOPSI) will re-open its doors on July 6 as the new, luxury NOPSI Hotel, New Orleans – a Salamander Hotel.
Located in the vibrant Central Business District, the nine-story brick building was originally constructed in 1927 by New Orleans’ former utility company and transit operator. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, NOPSI Hotel now has 217 refined guestrooms – including 76 suites – a lively and regionally inspired restaurant, 14,000 square feet of architecturally significant indoor and outdoor meeting space, and a sophisticated rooftop pool and bar.
Dedicated to providing an authentic experience inspired by the rich history of the destination it proudly again serves, the re-imagined NOPSI Hotel has undergone a meticulous restoration, returning each space of the grand dame to its original splendor including the building’s street facades, cast iron rails and stone panels. Inside the lobby, guests will find faithfully renovated vaulted ceilings, graceful arches, ornamental columns, brass grills and stone terrazzo flooring.
Within a short walk of The French Quarter, The Warehouse District and The Garden District, NOPSI Hotel is located near Lafayette Square and close to major attractions like the Mercedes-Benz Superdome and the World War II Museum. Thousands of manhole covers still bear the NOPSI name, which inspired the hotel’s unique logo, adding a sense of nostalgia to a walk down many of The Crescent City’s streets.
The property’s owner is Building and Land Technology (BLT), a leading national real estate investor and developer, while the hotel’s architect of record and general contractor is Woodward Design + Build from New Orleans. NOPSI Hotel is managed by acclaimed luxury hotel company Salamander Hotels & Resorts, founded by Sheila Johnson.
The hotel’s guestrooms range in size from 350 to 800 square feet, and have refined furnishings and local artwork. Guest bathrooms incorporate a soothing spa-like tile design and oversized, luxurious showers. The ninth floor features the expansive Power Suite as well as four Spa Suites with spacious terraces that can be utilized for an extraordinary in-room Salamander Spa experience.
The hotel is led by General Manager Ellen LeMaire, a Louisiana native.
Avent and dining concepts include:
Meetings & Events – The hotel boasts 14,000 square feet of meeting space, including the conversion of an adjacent building into the city’s most unique event location: the Dryades Ballroom. At 4,000 square feet, this industrially elegant space has arched windows, exposed brick walls, 30-foot ceilings and a preserved 24-foot high crane and track that once transported machinery. NOPSI Hotel also has five vaulted breakout rooms, an outdoor patio, and PS Reserve, a private dining space above the hotel’s signature restaurant, Public Service.
Public Service – A casual-yet-sophisticated restaurant respecting the civic spirit of the former New Orleans Public Service, Inc. Chef Dustin Brien and team prepare contemporary cuisine in an open-display kitchen, highlighted by a modern raw bar and open-flame rotisserie. The vintage design has a two-story glass façade, exposed brick and a custom-built craft bar.
Above the Grid – NOPSI Hotel’s rooftop pool and bar, Above the Grid, offers a hot spot for hotel both visitors and locals with views of the city’s skyline. The pool offers cabana service during the day; in the evening, "the energy level increases."
underCURRENT Bar & Patio – Located in the hotel’s classic lobby, underCURRENT Bar & Patio has vaulted ceilings and wrought-iron accents reminiscent of a Crescent City courtyard.
A member of the Preferred Hotels & Resorts LVX Collection and Historic Hotels of America.
For more information, call 844-439-1463 or visit www.NOPSIHotel.com.
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