NEW ORLEANS, La. – The Ernest N. Morial New Orleans Exhibition Hall Authority, which governs New Orleans’ convention center, has awarded a $7 million contract to NANO Architecture to design the convention center’s meeting rooms and public spaces.
“We embarked on a $557 million capital improvement plan (CIP) in 2018 that includes facility upgrades, as well as modernizing the internal meeting spaces,” said convention center president Michael J. Sawaya. “The CIP has already delivered a 7.5-acre pedestrian park, and other major improvements are underway to modernize the interior of the convention center. This is a great next step toward the goal of a completely transformed meeting and event facility.”
A local small business, NANO Architecture participated in the convention center’s Small and Emerging Business program, receiving mentorship by partnering with Populous, Inc., a large public facility design firm.
“The selection of NANO Architecture marks the largest contract we have ever awarded to a small emerging business,” said Exhibition Hall Authority president Jerry Reyes. “The Authority has been a champion of more active involvement of SEBs as a guiding principle for how business is done at the convention center. This contract actively aligns with that vision and is key to continuing the progress that has been seen in recent years.”
“We are honored to be selected by the convention center to work on this transformative project for the region,” said Terri Hogan Dreyer, managing partner of NANO Architecture. “Since our founding 20 years ago, we sought to bring the design standard of internationally renowned architectural firms back home to New Orleans in the form of a boutique, small business with a commitment to world-class design excellence.”
