Construction underway on New Orleans Fire Department’s new headquarters

Rendering and photos courtesy NANO LLC.

The City of New Orleans on June 22 hosted a groundbreaking ceremony to commence the final construction phase for the New Orleans Fire Department’s new headquarters.

The building, located at 401 City Park Ave., is being designed by local architecture and interiors firm NANO LLC.

According to a news release, 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,” the news release reads.

“I am very excited and honored to be part of the New Orleans Fire Department Headquarters project team,” said Sam LeBlanc, NANO’s lead designer on the project. “This renovation will give a new home to these dedicated first responders, the people we rely on in our times of greatest need.”

When hurricane damage and environmental issues required the NOFD to close its headquarters in 2011, staff and resources were scattered citywide. 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,” the news release reads. “NANO designed a 1,500-square-foot bridge that will connect the main building and an adjacent auditorium, creating a distinctive gateway to mark the facility’s entry and give it a more modern sensibility. 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.”

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