The Batture grand opening

April 1, 2025

BY Isabel Berman

The Batture, located at 25 Walnut Street in New Orleans, officially celebrated its grand opening the weekend of March 21, marking a major milestone in the city’s efforts to reconnect communities with the Mississippi River. Once a neglected industrial site, the area has been thoughtfully transformed into a vibrant, mixed-use development that prioritizes both public engagement and environmental sensitivity.

A key player in the project was the New Orleans-based architecture and design firm CICADA. Among its team was partner Matt DeCotiis, an Adjunct Lecturer in Architecture and Historic Preservation at Tulane University and an alum of the Master of Architecture program (M.Arch *12). DeCotiis and his team led the historic research and development of the design guidelines, ensuring that the project remained rooted in the cultural and ecological context of the site. Their work emphasized a place-based approach that honors the area’s industrial past while envisioning a more inclusive and sustainable future.

The Batture has been designed as a natural extension of The Fly, the popular riverside park adjacent to Audubon Park. With a focus on green space, walkability, and human-scale architecture, the development seamlessly blends commerce, recreation, and community life. Key features include open public areas, river-view pathways, and thoughtfully integrated retail and service spaces that support the local economy without overwhelming the natural surroundings.

By opening up access to the riverfront, The Batture not only enhances daily life for nearby residents and visitors but also reinforces New Orleans’ broader goals of sustainable urban development and resilience. With its emphasis on environmental stewardship, historical continuity, and public benefit, The Batture stands as a model for thoughtful waterfront redevelopment—one that embraces the river not as a boundary, but as a bridge between people, nature, and place.