Information > In The News > The Times-Picayune
Requiem for the Rivergate
By staff reports
taken from The Times-Picayune, April 22 1995
Some loved it, others hated it. The city's first convention center was a testament in concrete to New South optimism. Its time past, its site at the foot of Canal coveted for the new casino, the Rivergate gamely fought off the wrecking ball - and a concrete-eating Pac Man - for nearly three months.
Building goes out a winner
The Rivergate is only a memory now, but an award-winning memory.
The New Orleans Chapter of Architects recently paid tribute to the former convention center with a Special Honor Award as "a significant example of mid-20th Century architectural excellence."
The award was presented as part of the chapter's annual awards.
The Rivergate opened in 1968 as the city's first convention center, became obsolete with the opening of the later expansion of the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center a few blocks away. Unused for several years, it was demolished this year to make way for Harrah's Jazz Co.'s permanent casino, scheduled to open in 1996.
Bill Kline, chairman of the architects' Design Award Committee, said this is the first time the local chapter presented a special award.
The building was nominated by chapter members, and the jury choosing the annual awards agreed that it was worthy of the special honor. The jury consisted of architects Joe Bracato Sr. of Alexandria, Allen Bacque of Lafayette, and Kim Mitchell of Shreveport.
"Of its time, there is nothing better. It broke new ground," Brocato said of the Rivergate.
"It's a symbol of an era - a real contribution to New Orleans architecture," Mitchell said.
The award was presented to Curtis & Davis, Architects and Planners; Edward B. Silverstein & Associates, and Mathes, Bergman & Associates, Inc.