The 25-acre New Orleans campus of the LSU Dental School and Health Sciences Center sustained severe damage from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005. Eighteen buildings totaling over 500,000 sf were affected by flooding of basements, first floors housing critical equipment, and first floor dental operatories. Prolonged loss of environmental controls hastened mold growth beyond the height of the floodwaters, requiring systematic campus-wide environmental testing and remediation.

A multi-phase approach to the campus restoration was adopted by joint venture team, VergesRome Architects and Mathes Brierre Architects. Strategic coordination with FEMA was critical due to the size and complexity of the Project and the clients’ mission to maintain full occupancy of usable upper floors of buildings during construction. The team worked closely with FEMA, starting with initial storm damage assessments, Project Worksheet scope alignments, emergency projects for swift occupancy, analyses/ design of mitigation method options, and dry/wet floodproofing measures for all campus facilities. Sub-projects included demolitions of abandoned buildings, ceiling replacements, temporary asset protection, roof repairs, and renovations. Affected functions mitigated include Central Sterilization, shipping/ receiving, public reception and dental care facilities, student teaching/ training facilities, housekeeping facilities, and animal research/ care facilities.

New construction includes a maintenance building, warehouse building, and $46 million raised, 65,000 sf two-story Administrative Annex Building as part of the $82 million campus restoration. The new Annex, designed to house operations that previously occupied basements and first floors of Administration, Physical Plant, and Clinic Buildings, was completed in 2021.

Photos courtesy of Citadel Builders, LLC.