Listen to this articleProject Description: Octavia Books, a locally owned independent bookstore that has been the staple of Uptown New Orleans for close to 25 years, has completed a historic preservation, renovation, and modern redesign of the more than a century-old structure at 513 Octavia St. The renovation project creates a dynamic, flexible, and modernized layout that engages the community and fosters synergy between the bookstore and its adjacent café area.
Address: 513 Octavia St.
Owners: Tom Lowenburg and Judith Lafitte
Square footage: 4,500 square feet (bookstore retail space)
Previous story: Original renovation story was announced in Feb. 2023
In time for the holiday season, Octavia Books – a locally owned independent bookstore that has been in business for close to 25 years – has embraced a new chapter with a comprehensive historic renovation that optimizes its square footage and more than doubles its retail space (from about 2,000 square feet to 4,500 square feet). The project also enhances customer engagement and synergy within the Uptown New Orleans community.
“With a design that succeeds in expressing what was already special about our unique business, people have responded, and our customers have been overwhelmed with excitement from the moment they walk in and experience the way we have expanded and enhanced the bookstore space,” said Tom Lowenburg, co-founder and co-owner of Octavia Books.
Octavia Books teamed up with New Orleans-based and award-winning architecture and design firm NANO LLC to lead the project. Metairie-based Artisan Millshop completed all the woodwork, creating custom millwork panels for sections of the bookstore and the custom bookshelves. Local general contractor Gibbs Construction completed a full facelift of the exterior of the building and replaced the old driveway with water permeable pavers.
NANO spearheaded the creative reimagining of the historic renovation. NANO specializes in architecture, interior design, and master planning for new construction, renovations, and historic preservation projects across multiple industry sectors, including commercial, retail, hospitality, residential, educational, industrial, and municipal.
“We were honored to partner with Tom and Judith to embark on such an important revitalization project for a cherished local bookstore and neighborhood café housed within a century-old structure,” said Terri Dreyer, who co-founded NANO in 2001 with her husband Ian Dreyer. “We integrated both businesses into a unified design and drawing inspiration from the bold original design of Octavia Books, we expanded upon its established aesthetic to create a dynamic, synergistic, and flexible space conducive to community engagement.”
Since 1992, Lowenburg and his wife Judith Lafitte have owned the property at the corner of Laurel and Octavia Streets. Originally built in 1896, the original bookstore area underwent extensive renovations in 2000 before opening to the public. The commercial re-use and modern upgrades is the first renovation project to the bookstore space in more than 20 years.
The bookstore now connects to an adjacent dining café. The renovation expanded into spaces formerly occupied by a judo studio (Hayashi Sports Clinic) and a yoga studio (Audubon Yoga), allowing for a reimagined layout.
“That a bookstore is expanding, going to the next level, and reinvesting in the community are all important messages that I want to share with our loyal customers,” said Lowenburg. “This project was all about our community of customers and to keeping the bookstore always exciting, engaging, and welcoming.”
The expansion incorporates the historic corner entrance at Octavia and Laurel streets, enhancing visibility for the business and facilitating circulation and foot traffic from customers. The bookstore now features additional hand-crafted shelving, expanded children’s book sections, and introduces a small stage, and more space for public events and book signings.
Three pivoting bookcases now swing open as a gateway to and from the adjacent café space, allowing customers to easily access the bookstore after enjoying a coffee or meal. “This project celebrates the transformative power of shared spaces, where reading, dining, and connection converge to enrich lives and strengthen bonds within the neighborhood,” said Dreyer.
Dreyer added: “Retaining Octavia Books’ distinctive angled layout, we extended this design language throughout the lower floor, seamlessly connecting the expansion with the original space. The layout revolves around four structural cores housing essential systems, facilitating easy separation between the bookstore and café with pivoting shelves.”
Preserving the building’s historic integrity, NANO designed the project to expose original masonry walls and wood ceilings, carefully integrating new elements without compromising the structure. The project also includes modern upgrades, such as 60 solar panels on the rooftop and energy efficient air-conditioning and lighting, all while staying sensitive to the historical features of the 128-year-old building structure.
“A new acoustic wood ceiling, inspired by traditional bookbinding techniques, serves as a unifying feature, accentuated by Octavia Books’ signature blue hue throughout the space,” said Dreyer. “Custom millwork and integrated lighting frame the warm wood tones, enhancing the ambiance.”
Lowenburg said he appreciated the shared vision of NANO with Lafitte and himself to find solutions that improve the bookstore, while maintaining the historic foundation and integrity of the building.
“Architects have the ability to transform ideas into reality, and the finished result was worth waiting for,” said Lowenburg. “This building has played an important role in the community for more than 100 years, and it was important to maintain its integrity and historical aspects, while also improving our space and bringing something new to our customers. We accomplished both.”
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by PostX News and is published from a syndicated feed.)
