Plaza Tower, Skyscraper in New Orleans, US

The Plaza Tower is a high-rise in New Orleans with 45 floors rising 531 feet (162 meters) into the sky. The structure occupies the intersection of Howard and Loyola Avenues in downtown and was originally designed with a mix of office and residential spaces.

Construction began in 1964 under developer Sam J. Recile and was halted in October 1966; work resumed in 1968 and the tower was completed in 1969. Designed by Leonard R Spangenberg, Jr. & Associates, it was the tallest building in New Orleans and Louisiana for four years, until One Shell Square surpassed it. By 1984 the remaining residential apartments on the upper floors had been converted to offices.

The Plaza Tower represents a period of urban growth in New Orleans during the late 1960s, reflecting the architectural styles of that era. The building shapes the downtown skyline with its vertical form as part of the city's modern development.

The tower stands at the corner of Howard and Loyola Avenues in the Central Business District, but it is sealed and cannot be entered. Since 2023 pieces of the facade have fallen to the street, so surrounding pavements and streets have been closed off; keep a distance and view it from a block away.

The building has stood empty and unused since 2002 due to contamination from asbestos and toxic mold. These environmental issues have kept it closed off from any redevelopment or occupancy for many years.