The National Rice Mill, an award winning collaboration between developer Sean Cummings, Wayne Troyer Architects and LM Pagano, occupies a 100,000 square foot historic building that was once the largest rice mill in North America and will soon represent a new residential experience in New Orleans.  

For their fourth project together, Cummings and Troyer chose to emphasize the timeless beauty of the existing structure.  The design maintains the existing columns and brick walls of the 1880 Rice Mill to create 69 quintessentially great lofts.  With contemporary choices for finishes and fixtures that contrast with the historic building, the Rice Mill Lofts is about this time and this place.  

With captivating views of the Mississippi River and the city’s skyline, each loft is cradled by New Orleans and the Bywater.  Taking cues from its neighbors and the adjacent New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (NOCCA),the Rice Mill is designed with a unique artistic sense.  Notes Cummings, "New Orleans has a chance to reassert itself at the very forefront of American creative culture, and we want to do our part to encourage the cross-pollination of ideas in this vibrant, creative neighborhood and among its remarkable educators, talented artisans and top tier craftspeople."  Local artist will have work featured in the building and the existing graffiti will remain intact.  
 
The Rice Mill Lofts represents the first project by ekistics that aims to provide an environmentally friendly product as well as hospitality services.  To accomplish this goal, the design utilizes recycled materials from the existing historic structure as well as non-emitting VOC (volatile organic compounds) materials. Low-E insulated glass windows and thermal mass walls are passive methods of reducing energy use.  Mechanical equipment including 16 SEER air conditioning units with programmable thermostats, high efficiency electric heat pumps and Energy Star appliance further cut energy costs for each residence.  Ekistics draws on its experience managing boutique hotels to provide residents with an uncommon level of hospitality services, including dinner reservations on the roof deck, poolside cocktails, housekeeping assistance, grocery delivery, pet care and energy management.