New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin, left, and VA Secretary Jim Nicholson (click to enlarge)
New Orleans – Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) Jim Nicholson today announced that a three-party venture will design the replacement VA hospital for New Orleans, moving VA's vision for a state-of-the-art medical complex closer to reality. Nicholson made the announcement while visiting the CrescentCity today.
Local New Orleans VA officials along with a team from VA headquarters evaluated submissions from competing firms, selecting the successful teams of NBBJ of Columbus, Ohio, Eskew+Dumez+Ripple of New Orleans and Rozas-Ward Architects, also of New Orleans.
"These top firms, with both local and national experience in VA and private medical facilities design, offer us promise for creative approaches to a sparkling, next-generation health facility that will be the pride of Southeast Louisiana veterans," Nicholson said.
The process of selecting an architectural and engineering firm follows federal laws that provide for hiring based on demonstrated competence and qualifications. Upon selection of an architectural and engineering firm, VA will move to the second phase, a contractual agreement.
VA recently announced the preferred site for a Southeast Louisiana medical center is a 34-acre tract bounded by South Rocheblave Street, South Galvez Street, Tulane Avenue and Canal Street in downtown New Orleans.
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For additional information about the New Orleans replacement medical center, visit VA on the Internet: http://www1.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=1372.
