Nell Nolan: Louisiana Landmarks Society
Preservation Plaudits
As presented by MCC Real Estate, Louisiana Landmarks Society 2018 Awards for Excellence in Historic Preservation held an event at the Jung Hotel and Residences, one of this year’s award recipients and “demonstrating restoration coupled with new construction.” The event, which cited 22 outstanding restoration and renovation projects and new construction in the Crescent City, was attended by some of the city’s leading architects, builders, designers, conservators, developers, financiers and preservations.
Award winners in attendance counted Jamie Neville, CEO of Neville Development, and wife Elizabeth;architect Rick Fifield and wife Deborah Oppenheimer; Wes and Anne Michaels, Spackman Mossop Michaels; Lauren Gibbs, Gibbs Construction; Zach Kupperman, Kupperman Companies, and Emily; Wes Palmisano, Palmisano Group, and Annie; Natan Diacon-Furtado, studioWTA; and Nicole Cota, Nicole Cota Studio. Among the sponsors and guests within a crowd of 250 or so were Antonin Robert, Carling Dinkler, Anne and Jimmy Morse, John Zollinger, Bill and Sally Reeves and David Campbell, past Louisiana Landmarks Society president, a post now held by Sandra Stokes.
As mistress of ceremonies, Stokes led the awards presentation with assistance by LLS executive director Carol Gniady, second Vice President Jim Logan and Treasurer Louis McFaul. After the presentation, guests enjoyed wine and taste treats from the Jung Hotel as they admired hand-carved watermelons with Landmarks’ logo and name. Candles and flowers were further touches. Of course, the site for the night, the historic Jung, was the cynosure as the Society’s set experienced the completely refurbished environs, especially the grand ballroom and the foyer’s Art Deco bar.