Café on 11

In 2017, elite | studio e was brought on board by the operator to reinvision the eleventh floor of the Pan American building in New Orleans, LA. The space is among the only large meeting spaces in the area and the client desired a variety of amenities. 

Our team created sketches transforming the location into a space suitable for private meetings, collaboration and dining. The foodservice concepts include a full cafe and a conversion bar (coffee by day and alcochol in the evening).

Once the desired amenities were established, an architect joined the team to collaborate on the design of meeting spaces, desk placement and finishes. elite | studio e remained on board throughout the project as a foodservice consultant and also built out the cafe, kitchen and dishroom. 

Following a $7.5 million renovation, the building, now owned by Stirling Properties, features a variety of conveniences for the consumer, the operator and the building staff. The space is called Cafe on 11.

From a diner's perspective, the center market bar serves as a design focal point and provides a robust offering of hot and cold food with a rotating menu. From an operations standpoint, the market bar can be replenished from the inside and, as a result, does not disrupt the consumer flow in the cafe. 

Although the COVID-19 pandemic was not something any of us could have predicted in 2017, the flexibility of this design made it easier to create a safe dining environment. For example, the market bar was converted into a served station simmply by adjusting the foodguards to a 90 degree vertical angle. 

In addition, the design of a new conference center certainly involves the integration of technology. Self-order technology, including via mobile and desktop apps, was once a convience. Now, its a necessity for those who do not want to linger around cafe.

Opening in 2020 during the panedmic, doesn't provide this Cafe on 11 the opportunity to be completely utilized as designed. However, elite | studio e and the rest of the team have created a vibrant, trendy, reassuring dining space that fits the current emphasis on safety while still offering attractive meal choices.