Brennan’s Restaurant
This popular New Orleans restaurant, synonymous with delicious cuisine and fine dining was first created by Brennan family patriarch Owen Brennan in 1946. It subsequently moved to its current location and today it remains best known for its fabulous brunch featuring Eggs Hussarde, Eggs Sardou and slow cooked pork shoulder grillades and grits. In 2013, Ralph Brennan and business partner Terry White purchased the restaurant and the building at 417 Royal Street from Brennan family members. They completely renovated the restaurant, expanding the cooking capabilities from one main kitchen on the first floor to three kitchens including a prep kitchen and full service kitchen on the second floor of this historic French Quarter building for a total renovation cost of more than $20 million.
MEP Services
Moses Engineers provided full mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) services including fire protection design. A water source heat pump system provides heating and cooling for the entire restaurant. Moses designed a low noise fluid cooler for heat rejection, with special sound attenuation features due to its close proximity to other buildings and some residential units in the heart of the French Quarter.
Similar to the fluid cooler, the kitchen hood exhaust systems had to be carefully located for noise attenuation and for compliance with the Vieux Carre Commission’s strict regulations governing sight lines. The Commission’s rule that no exhaust fan be visible from the street limited options. Additionally, the exhaust fans’ noise had to be designed to not affect the patrons in the interior, patio gathering/dining spaces or adjacent properties. Moses Engineers utilized an existing cupola as the location for these exhaust fans which met the Commission’s strict requirements.
Speciality Systems
Because of flooding due to the inability of the City’s storm drain system to handle extremely heavy rains, Moses designed a unique courtyard stormwater storage and sump pump system discharging above the sidewalk to direct rainwater flow to street level until the subsurface storm drain system could catch-up. Moses Engineers designed a natural gas generator system, unique in the French Quarter, requiring extension of the utility company’s high pressure gas system. The gas generator provides backup power to life safety systems, numerous coolers/freezers, elevator and the renowned Brennan’s wine cellar with its extensive collection of rare wines.
Lighting Design
Moses Engineers provided all lighting design for both interior and exterior spaces and incorporated custom chandeliers designed by the Interior Designer. Extremely energy efficient LEDs were the sole lighting source throughout and a full building digital IP based lighting control system with dimming and scene controls throughout all eight dining rooms was implemented.
Fire Protection
Moses’ designed innovative fire protection sprinkler systems include a specialized water curtain system which allowed the prominent historic main staircase to remain in use.
