Leonard Spangenberg

Leonard Reese Spangenberg Jr. (1925 ― 2007) was an architect whose residential and commercial designs were built primarily in New Orleans, Louisiana, although he had others elsewhere in North America and the Middle East.

Spangenberg's distinctive designs included the Plaza Tower skyscraper and the Unity Temple of New Orleans.

He then served as Wright's supervising apprentice for construction of the Wright-designed Welbie L. Fuller Residence[b] in Pass Christian, Mississippi.

Spangenberg designed various residential properties in the New Orleans area and other projects elsewhere in the United States, Mexico, and the Middle East.

In this regard, Spangenberg's architectural design consisted of two contiguous round buildings, one larger than the other and both with dome roofs.

The lower 14 floors of the building are much larger in area, and consist of a curved design with a marble facing on one side and wedge-shaped windows along one corner.

[8][6] Following completion of the Plaza Tower, Leonard R. Spangenberg & Associates moved its offices to the building, which is located at 1001 Howard Avenue in New Orleans.

[3] A review by the Society of Architectural Historians stated that the design is "an homage to constructivism, futurism, expressionism, modernism, and the work of Frank Lloyd Wright, although a jumble rather than a distillation.

The curved wall, intended to echo the course of the Mississippi River, and the prowlike glass corner give it the semblance of a ship about to sail off into the future.

This eight story building consisted of vertical features suggestive of a pier, with arches near the top, and copper fascia.

[3] The structure was heavily damaged by the effects of Hurricane Katrina, and, following restoration, the building re-opened as the Chef Tower Apartments.

[13] Spangenberg also completed various residential projects, including ones in the Lakeview area of New Orleans and in the Lakewood South development.