Local Architecture Firm Wins National “Small Project Award” for The Syd

JULY 18, 2025

BY Shyla Krishnappa

New Orleans-based architecture firm workshopWDXL has received national recognition with a 2025 Small Project Award from the American Institute of Architects (AIA). This recognition not only celebrates the team at workshopWDXL, which was founded by TSA alums Jessica Walker and David Demsey (both M.Arch ’07), but also places the New Orleans design scene on a national stage.

The award honors their work on The Syd, a strikingly original, small-scale infill project that demonstrates the power of thoughtful design at any scale.

"Every project honored through these 11 award programs reminds us of the profound impact architecture has on our communities,” said 2025 AIA President, Evelyn Lee, FAIA. “Great architecture is not just about buildings; it is about creating spaces that uplift, connect, and inspire. These winners exemplify how thoughtful design can improve lives and shape a better future for all."

AIA Small Project Award 2025 celebrates excellence in design across projects of all sizes. These winning works prove that impactful architecture is not limited by scale, showcasing innovation, quality, and creativity in small project design. This national recognition places workshopWDXL among a select group of architects recognized for their impactful, sustainable, resilient, and inclusive work. The Syd was previously awarded with a 2024 Honor Award for Architecture from AIA Louisiana and a 2024 Merit Award for Commercial Architecture from AIA New Orleans.

By developing an undesired and ignored site, no waste was created through demolition and the historic Live Oak tree covering a portion of the site was protected and made a focal point, along with a new swimming pool and tropical landscaping, which is the heart of the hotel. 

Thoughtful amenities, such as gracious galleries, are combined with vined cable green screens and the conserved Live Oak, to create a balanced microclimate. This allows outdoor spaces to be enjoyed year-round even during the hottest months. With street frontage of only twelve feet, the body of the site lies internally within the block. This perceived limitation became its strength through astute design and programming of an extended entry sequence through a lushly landscaped meandering pathway. This defined entry works much like a French Quarter courtyard, or Frank Lloyd Wright’s “compression and release” principle, transporting the guest from streetscape to tranquil urban oasis as the site unfolds before the guests. A manipulated roofline is utilized to keep the building within scale of the surrounding buildings and the material palette blends the building into the vernacular of the neighborhood. 

This recognition builds on workshopWDXL’s growing national profile. The firm was founded in 2019 by Jessica Walker and David Demsey, both graduates of the Tulane School of Architecture (M.Arch. ’07). At the time The Syd was developed, the office had just two full-time staff members, underscoring the potential of small firms to make a major design impact.

The Syd is operated by Stay Marais and was constructed by NFT Group, with landscaping by Sun Custom Landscapes and engineering by Batture Engineering, Electrical Design Solutions, and Herzog Engineering LLC. Project photography by Michael Mantese and video by Crista Rock.