First Bank and Trust Tower

BankPlus Tower
BankPlus Tower seen from Loyola Avenue at Poydras
General information
Type	Office, Retail
Location	New Orleans, United States
Coordinates	29°57′02″N 90°04′26″W / 29.95056°N 90.07389°W / 29.95056; -90.07389
Completed	1987
Height
Antenna spire	N/A
Roof	481 feet (147 m)
Technical details
Floor count	36
Floor area	Office: 544,998 square feet (50,632 m2)[1]
Lifts/elevators	15
Design and construction
Architect(s)	Welton Becket & Associates
References
[2]

The BankPlus Tower (previously known as the First Bank Tower, LL&E Tower and 909 Poydras Tower), located at 909 Poydras Street in the Central Business District of New Orleans, Louisiana, is a 36-story, 481 feet (147 m)-tall skyscraper designed in the post-modern style by Welton Becket & Associates and developed by Joseph C. Canizaro. It is the fifth tallest building in both the city of New Orleans and the state of Louisiana. Floors 2-8 are parking levels, and 10-36 hold office space. Hertz Investment Group is the current owner, having acquired the building in 2005. Beau Box Commercial Real Estate^[3] handles the leasing for this building. The current name comes from the New Orleans area bank BankPlus,^[4] the previous name comes from the Louisiana Land & Exploration Company.

The exterior of the building is clad in granite and bronze tinted glass. The building is illuminated by spotlights at night, making it one of the most visible buildings in New Orleans' night time skyline. The 7 levels of parking are accessed from O'Keefe Avenue. In front of the main entrance on Poydras Street are a pair of bronze sculptures by Enrique Alférez depicting David and a lute player.

The building suffered some damage during Hurricane Katrina in August 2005, including blown out windows and roof damage. The building reopened to tenants in late 2005.