Introducing Louisiana’s ‘Coolest Building’ – Where to See It

(KMDL-FM) When you use the word "cool" in Louisiana, you have to be careful. Cool is not a word we are that familiar with when it comes to weather. But we are familiar with the concept when used in pop culture references. Usually, when something is described as cool, it's modern and fresh. In the case of Louisiana's coolest building, not by HVAC standards but pop culture standards, the choice of Business Insider editors is neither modern nor fresh. And certainly not as cool as this dog.

The folks at Business Insider wanted to celebrate the architecture that makes each American town, city, village, and state unique. As you might imagine, choosing the "coolest" building was not an easy choice. Mainly because "cool" is such a general term.

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The editors at Business Insider decided that would let the "lay of the land" determine what was cool for a specific locale or region of the country. In some places, "cool" meant futuristic and modern. In other places, like Louisiana, for example, the idiom of "cool" shifted to a more historical or cultural presentation.

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How Do You Define "Cool"?

As you might imagine, in states like California, Massachusetts, and Connecticut, the choice for "coolest" building was a structure that most would identify as being more modern.

In our neighboring states, the choices the B.I. team selected were the Thorncrown Chapel in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. In Texas, the choice was "Twilight Epiphany," Skyspace, a performance venue that is located in Houston. 

Mississippi's coolest building was Gehry's Pods at the Ohr-O'Keefe Museum of Art in Biloxi. This pod-shaped structure is not something you'd expect to see in Mississippi. But then again, most of us don't think of Mississippi as a hotbed of art. Maybe we should reconsider.

Where Is Louisiana's Coolest Building Located?

For Louisiana's "Coolest Building," you'll have to travel to New Orleans, and you'll want to visit Jackson Square. That's where you will find the Pontalba Buildings. Those structures make up two sides of Jackson Square. The buildings are believed to house the oldest continuously rented apartments in the country.

The color of the bricks, the balconies, and the wrought iron railings all scream French Quarter, and maybe that's why the team at Business Insider opted for this choice over the Ossun Rocket. But then again, the Ossun Rocket isn't a building, but you know you want to see what it looks like, don't you?

Here is Business Insider's complete list of the Coolest Buildings in each state.