On June 22, the City of New Orleans hosted a groundbreaking ceremony to celebrate the start of the final construction phase for the New Orleans Fire Department’s (NOFD) new headquarters, which NANO is the Architect of Record on. Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell, NOFD Chief Roman Nelson, NANO designer Sam LeBlanc, FEMA representatives and other government officials attended the ceremony at the 401 City Park Avenue location.
Through this transformational renovation, the city’s former Municipal Training Academy building — a 20,000 square-foot postmodern brick and plaster structure with a gabled roof — will become the new NOFD headquarters and a resilient storm shelter. Set to function as both an administrative office and a 24-hour operations center, the facility is designed to consolidate NOFD resources, improve communication and preparedness and cultivate an enhanced sense of community among New Orleans fire fighters.
When hurricane damage and environmental issues forced the NOFD to close its headquarters in 2011, staff and resources were scattered across the city. The new location and new facility will bring everything back under one storm-resilient roof. Working in close collaboration with NOFD leadership, NANO redesigned the building for 24-hour operation.
In addition to updating the interior to accommodate the complex program needed for an emergency response building, NANO created spaces for offices, administration areas, conference rooms, medical and training facilities, a fully equipped dormitory, a state-of-the-art gym, an expansive kitchen, a recreation room and a disaster recovery area. NANO designed a 1,500 square foot bridge that will connect the main building and an adjacent auditorium, creating a distinctive gateway that marks the facility’s entry and gives it a more modern sensibility.
"I am very excited and honored to be part of the New Orleans Fire Department Headquarters project team. This renovation will give a new home to these dedicated first responders, the people we rely on in our times of greatest need." – Sam LeBlanc, Project Designer
Not only will the improvements enhance the building’s aesthetic, they will also make it safer. NANO upgraded the building to a Type II-B, Risk Category IV compliant structure. In addition to site remediation, waterproofing, and impact-resistant glazing, NANO carved out a secure space for a large generator, an access control system fully integrated into the security monitoring system, and resilient flood mitigation and stormwater management solutions.
When completed, the updated building’s flexible spaces and durable design will ensure that, when disaster hits, the city’s first responders will be ready
