Like many others,
Baton Rouge is a city with several business districts. CBD (Central Business District) is a term widely used in Louisiana, basically the downtown district. Other groups of midrises are located in the southern reaches of the city including Tiger Town/North Gate, north of LSU, dating from the 50's and now showing a comeback with many new condominium projects, South Gate, a newer district south of the campus, CitiPlace, and Towne Center near the I-10/I-12 split . In the southeastern areas are United Plaza stretching along Essen between I-10 and I-12, and other office and medical districts along Essen Lane, Bluebonnet Blvd, and Seigen Lane adjacent to I-10, and along Perkins Road connecting them. Sherwood Corporate is farther east along Sherwood Forest south of I-12. On the north side, opposite Metro Airport, the new Harding Place development is underway. Here are a few photos of Louisiana's Capitol City. As they become available I will add more.
Downtown Baton Rouge is a blend of old and new
On the northern limits of the CBD lies the State governmental complex, including:
The Louisiana Capitol, a 34-story, 450-foot Alabama limestone-clad skyscraper, is an excellent example of a greatly simplified classicism with Art Deco details that were in vogue for monumental buildings in the late 1920s. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, it is America's tallest capitol building.
now illuminated, it can be seen at a distance of 20 miles on beautiful Louisiana evenings.
On the Capitol grounds, the historic Arsenal Museum , originally a Powder magazine, listed in the National Register of Historic Places, is one of Baton Rouge's oldest landmarks. Originally constructed in the 1830's, this site on the river was of particular military importance to early settlers as well as Federal and Confederate troops.
The Pentagon Barracks, built in 1823-24 to house U.S.Army Troups charged with defending Baton Rouge. The barracks housed many famous military men, including President Zachary Taylor. It was the original site of Louisiana State University.
The historic art deco style Capitol Annex Building
Capitol Park:
The state has embarked on a visionary redevelopment plan for the area around the State Capitol. So far, a series of four new state government office buildings have arisen following the elegant principle at the heart of the Capitol Park design, use the architectural language and sculptural ornamentation of the Capitol Building itself as the major source of stylistic references for all new development within the complex.
LaSalle Building
Claiborne Building
Galvez Building
now complete
Iberville Building
under construction
Bienville Building
rendering
under construction
proposed LPSC building
Louisiana State Museum
looking north across Capitol Lake can be seen:
The Louisiana Circuit Courts Building
The DPC Center
On the southern limits of the CBD lies the City/Parish governmental complex. Also in this area is the historic Old State Capitol. Located high on a bluff overlooking the Mississippi River, the Old State Capitol was completed in 1849.
The Old State Capitol, Central Library and Governmental Building
EBR Parish Court House
EBR Parish Governmental Building
Centroplex Public Library
LASM, Louisiana Arts and Science Museum,
formerly the Yahoo & Mississippi Valley Depot
Irene Pennington Planetarium
and ExxonMobil Space Theatre
The RiverCenter and Arena
Sheraton Hotel, Atrium at Riverside and Belle of Baton Rouge Casino
The Louisiana Memorial Plaza, USS Kidd and Maritime Museum
Plaza d'Italia
Public Trolley Stop
the award winning Shaw Center and Manship Theatre for the Peforming Arts
with Mississippi River Bridge, Delta Queen and USS Kidd in background
its entrance plaza with "dancing" waters
one of many new clubs in renovated structures near the Shaw
LSU Museum of Art, Arts Block, formerly old Auto Hotel Building
In a compact area between the two governmental complexes are some of the CBD's buildngs:
Former La National Bank Building, now an office building
Chase Bank Tower South and Albemarle North
One American Place Tower
Russell Long Federal Building and US Court House
the 36 floor RiverPlace condominiums, construction scheduled to begin later this year
Hilton Capitol Center, formerly Jack Tar and Capitol House Hotel, rendering
under renovation
opened 2007
I City Plaza
and proposed II City Plaza
under construction
now finished
LaCaps new headquarters
under construction
and the very popular 13th Gate Haunted House, named best in nation
Street Scenes:
4th Street, north axis toward State Capitol
farther north along 4th street
4th Steet's south axis, Judicial Courthouse, rendering
under construction, nearing completion this fall
along Laurel Street near the river
along Florida Street
City Club Building on North Boulevard, constructed in 1894 as the Main Post Office, became City Hall in 1935.
Farther east along North Boulevard
Lafayette Street's historic Lafayette Gallery
and near Water Tower Park
St. Louis Street south of the Parish Courthouse
along Government Street
GEAUX TIGERS