2 Canal Street, Skyscraper at Canal Street, New Orleans, United States.
2 Canal Street is a 33-story skyscraper along the Mississippi River in New Orleans, defined by expansive glass windows and a facade that merges modernist principles with decorative details. Its vertical presence marks the transition from the French Quarter into the city's commercial zone.
Architect Edward Durell Stone completed this building in 1967 as New Orleans pursued vertical commercial growth. The structure marked a turning point in the city's development and Stone's own shift toward incorporating surface decoration into modernist design.
The building reflects postwar American design, merging clean modernist lines with decorative surface elements that shape how visitors experience the commercial district. This blend has become part of the neighborhood's visual identity.
Twelve elevators provide efficient access through the building, and its location at a major transit hub makes reaching the French Quarter, riverfront, and business district straightforward. The site connects seamlessly to public transportation routes.
The building served as a turning point where Stone deliberately wove decorative patterns into modernist language, departing from his earlier minimalist work. This shift influenced how other architects approached commercial design in the city.
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