The Preservation Resource Center‘s Beams & Brews event is featuring the renovation of a Mid-City building. On Wednesday (June 1), it will tour the former Lighting Inc. building at 4201 Tulane Ave. Local real estate developers Tony and Katherine Gelderman will lead the tour and discuss their renovation.
Built in 1924, this two-story commercial building was home to Riecke Cabinet Works before it was renovated in 1971 to house Lighting Inc.
The two-story building was referred to as a daylight factory, emphasizing the numerous windows that allowed in natural light. It accommodated roughly 130 Riecke Cabinet Works workers, according to an article in the PRC’s Preservation in Print.
Over the next five decades, the company supplied wooden elements, such as church pews and hymn boards, to many of New Orleans’ churches, including the Archbishop’s throne in St. Louis Cathedral, which was hand carved with matched veneers. The company also manufactured the wire screens for Charity Hospital and mahogany radio cabinets for local businesses.
The 1971 renovation included the application of an exterior metal wrapping that covered the unusual original metal façade.
Utilizing Historic Rehabilitation Tax credits, the Geldermans and their team have nearly completed a sensitive rehabilitation of the building, retaining the original façade cladding on the elevations facing Tulane Avenue and South Solomon Street.
Beams & Brews offers a chance to view the property inside and out, hear from the project’s managers and enjoy free drinks. This event, originally scheduled for May 25, was rescheduled to Wednesday (June 1).
It will be held 5:30 to 7 p.m. at 4201 Tulane Ave. The event $10 for the general public and free for PRC members. Tickets are available here.
