Counting House
The Counting House—the two-story building on the St. Louis Street side of The Collection’s main courtyard—is named for the banking activities conducted by the Lizardi firm on this site in the 19th century. It was built, however, as a warehouse by Jean François Merieult in 1794–95. A 20th-century renovation revealed that material from a previous warehouse had been incorporated into Merieult’s building. The walls were found to contain some small French bricks, as well as thistle-shaped ventilator grills dating from the early colonial warehouse.
When the Lizardi Brothers firm purchased the property in the 1830s they made major changes to Merieult’s warehouse. Besides adding a second story and gallery to the building, the firm completely transformed the first floor, creating a grand Greek Revival room for banking. The room’s classical details—pilasters and Ionic columns, ceiling medallions and cornice—date from this period. The Lizardi Brothers added to the building’s elegance with three arched exterior doors, heavy paneled shutters, and fanlight transoms.
Today, the first floor is used for meetings, seminars, receptions, and exhibitions when additional space is needed; the second floor is used for administrative offices.
