Ten years after Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans’ healthcare infrastructure, the state of Louisiana opened an academic medical center that provides affordable community health and critical services while markedly elevating standards of patient care. Designed by NBBJ / Blitch Knevel, the 1.5 million-square-foot University Medical Center New Orleans (UMC) is located on a 37-acre site in the Mid-City neighborhood and forms the cornerstone of a new top-tier healthcare district for the region.
Given the area’s vulnerability to catastrophic flooding, the core concept for the building organization mandated by the client was that no critical hospital functions occur at grade level. All services on the ground floor are non-essential in a 100-year flood event and all mission critical components, including the Emergency Department (ED), are located at least 21 feet above base flood elevation. Also, design technology, emergency power, and material stock allow the hospital to operate after a category three hurricane for up to a week or more with no outside support.
Now operated by LCMC Health, UMC combines academics and science to provide comprehensive treatment and trauma services, as well as graduate medical education programs for future generations. Services include an ED that accommodates almost 130,000 visits per year, 448 inpatient beds, and surgical services with 22 operating rooms and 76 pre-/post-op bays. UMC has won numerous awards including the prestigious AIA/AAH Healthcare Design Award, an Honor Award by AIA New Orleans, and the Healthcare Environment Award by Contract magazine.
Drive time: ~20 minutes
Tour Length: ~1 hour
Arrival time at facility: ~1:20 p.m.
Return time to convention center: ~3:00 p.m.
2000 Canal St, New Orleans, LA 70112