renderings by NBBJ via Project Legacy
Construction is still going strong at the future site of the gigantic new VA Hospital complex and Businessweek examines the design aspects of building an "upside-down, hurricane proof" hospital. Taking some of the awful post-Katrina hospital experiences to heart, Project Legacy, as the 1.6 million-square-foot space is now labeled, zips the ER, power plant, kitchen, and patient rooms above the 20-foot flood line. A boat dock is also being built (just in case, of course), a massive backup power outage plan is in place, and the 200 private rooms can be double-occupancy spots, if need be. The VA campus, 30 acres bounded by Canal, S. Rocheblave, S. Galvez Streets and Tulane Avenue is scheduled to be up and running in 2016.
· Designing an upside-down, hurricane-proof hospital for New Orleans [Businessweek]
· Project Legacy [official site]
· VA Medical Center coverage [Curbed NOLA]