A select team of senior staff and consultants from the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center have recommended three highly-qualified development teams for participation in the Ernest N. Morial New Orleans Exhibition Hall Authority Request for Proposal (RFP) process, as the Authority moves toward development of a 39-acre mixed-use development project that will complement the planned 1,200 room headquarters hotel along the New Orleans riverfront.
After completing a detailed interview, qualifications, and capabilities review process that included five 5 respondents, the Authority has selected three Master Development teams to compete in the Master Developer RFP process. The three selected teams are as follows:
• Woodward, Leventhal, Carpenter (JV)
• The Domain Companies
• River Park Neighborhood Investors
The Authority expects to issue the RFP by December 13, 2019 with an established final submittal deadline of February 28, 2020.
“We are extremely gratified by the interest shown by five well-regarded and highly-experienced development teams, and believe the three finalists demonstrate the kind of vision, experience, and capabilities necessary to bring this transformative project to life,” said Michael J. Sawaya, President of the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center.
The Request for Qualifications, made available to interested parties on September 6, 2019, called for respondents to detail their capabilities and approach to developing 39 acres of property owned by the Exhibition Hall Authority and adjacent to acreage designated for the Convention Center’s planned 1,200 room hotel.
The RFQ stipulated that submittals should outline each respondent’s vision for creating a “mixed use development that will lead to a vibrant neighborhood, serve as an economic driver for the State of Louisiana and City of New Orleans, develop a compelling value proposition that will attract visitors and uses to the site, and build a consensus among public and private stakeholders.”
“In addition to their outstanding track records as developers of other highly successful projects, we are especially pleased that all three finalists exhibited a commitment to inclusion of Small and Emerging Business (SEB) and Disadvantaged Emerging Business (DEB) participation in their responses,” said Melvin J. Rodrigue, Chairman of the Ernest N. Morial New Orleans Exhibition Hall Authority. We are confident that any of the three finalists can help the transformational vision of the Authority to be realized.”
About the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center
With 1.1 million square feet of prime exhibit space, in an entirely contiguous hall, the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center provides the largest single exhibit space in the country. The New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center features an award winning staff and first class amenities, and is the sixth largest convention center in the nation. A consistent Top 10 host of the largest conventions and tradeshows in the nation annually, the Convention Center is also one of the city’s “Top Workplaces.” A leading contributor to the city’s robust tourism economy, the Convention Center’s event activity has produced $90.1 billion in economic impact since its 1985 opening, including $5.7 billion in new tax revenue for state and local governments.
About the Ernest N. Morial New Orleans Exhibition Hall Authority
The Ernest N. Morial New Orleans Exhibition Hall Authority’s (Authority) exclusive mission is to finance, construct and operate facilities in order to attract and conduct conventions, trade shows and other events that support and expand the economy of both the State of Louisiana and New Orleans Region. The Authority is composed of a 13-member board of commissioners, ten appointed by the Governor of Louisiana, and three appointed by the Mayor of New Orleans. Since 1985, event activity at the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center has produced $90.1 billion in economic impact since its 1985 opening, including $5.7 billion in new tax revenue for state and local governments.
