The Preservation Resource Center this week has mourned the loss of Peter Trapolin, the prolific New Orleans architect and preservationist and a longtime friend of this organization.
As he is laid to rest today, we reflect the incredible contributions he made to the PRC and our historic city.
It’s not hyperbole to state that Peter’s architectural talent can be seen on almost every block downtown. It can be seen from Julia Row to Factor’s Row, from the Sazerac House to the renovation of his own personal house, an amazing 1836 townhouse he brought back to life after it was ravaged by fire.
Peter’s specialization in careful restorations of historic architecture — and the universally acknowledged excellence Peter had in his craft — meant his expertise in New Orleans was in constant demand.
He was the founding principal of Trapolin-Peer Architects. It is no surprise that his firm is known worldwide for its excellence, especially with historic renovations, and thoughtful new construction that flows with the cadence of existing streetscapes.
Though his design work was prolific throughout downtown and the Warehouse District, Peter, who was a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects, worked across the city, the state, the country and the world. And his projects varied greatly. From the restoration of the City Park Carousel, to the design of the Botanical Gardens’ Pavilion of the Two Sisters, to the gorgeous replacement of a historic home that burned down on the corner of Third and Prytania Streets, Peter’s eye for Classical details led to myriad of projects during his long career.
Somehow, he still found time to volunteer tremendous amounts of time to the Preservation Resource Center.
He served on the PRC’s Board of Directors for many years, first elected in 1982 as chairman of the PRC Architectural Review Committee. In the decades that followed, he would continue to serve on the board, and chaired and contributed significantly to PRC’s Easement Committee.
He was involved in many other committees and endeavors through the years, including providing design assistance and advice for programs like Operation Comeback. Peter’s institutional knowledge of the organization’s design work through the years, and his deep understanding of the city’s landscape, made him an invaluable presence for almost the entire life of the nonprofit.
The PRC is indebted to Peter’s immense generosity, which had a profound impact on our organization. We remember and thank him today for all that he did for the PRC.
Peter’s quiet brilliance and gentle presence was deeply appreciated by all of us at the PRC. Unsurprisingly, he is credited by many former employees and colleagues as a mentor and inspiration in their own architectural careers.
His presence and friendship will be missed for many years to come.
Danielle Del Sol was an editor of Preservation in Print from 2011 to 2018 and executive director of the PRC from 2018-2025.
