800 Magazine, originally constructed in 1844, served first as a livery, then as an undertaker’s establishment credited with the preparation of Jefferson Davis’ body for lying in state at Gallier Hall, and in 1940 served as home to the American Coffee Company prior to renovation.
The building sustained significant structural damage and went through many iterations of repurposing that gradually defaced its architectural significance. Through the discovery of a single exterior photograph dating 1903, TPA extensively restored the structure to its original architectural excellence while converting the interior to house modern residential, retail, and commercial space.
The residential component consists of a series of two-story townhouse-style apartments on the second and third floors with a mix of retail on the ground floor. The apartment design is spacious and modern with large terraces and luxurious appointments while still honoring the historic nature of the building through exposed original ceiling joists, beams, columns and exterior brick walls. The applied finishes throughout the building, including wood flooring, stair treads and decorative wood and steel elements, were salvaged from the original structure.