The Ritz-Carlton New Orleans Hotel is commencing a $2 million upgrade to the terra cotta façades of the two 100-year-old buildings that make up the hotel.

Pascal Architects of New Orleans, the same firm that led the Ritz Carlton’s 2013 $14 million interior renovation, will be utilizing the original hand drawn blue prints of the structures for restoration and replication of various structural and ornate elements.  The Ritz Carlton has occupied the historic Maison Blanche and S.H. Kress Co. buildings since 2000.

Paul Loisel, communications manager for the Ritz-Carlton, said the work began earlier this month and will likely wrap up by the middle of August, but this won’t affect hotel operations.

Some of the restoration to take place includes an ornate pediment over the hotel entrance, which was the original entrance to the Maison Blanche building that had been removed in the mid 1900s during a renovation of the building.

The “KRESS” letters at the top of the Kress building will also be replaced, as well as a terra cotta strip across the second floor that includes “S.H. KRESS & CO. 5-10-25 STORE” signage, both of which have deteriorated over time.

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