Beloved New Orleans hospital, wracked by floods and grief in Hurricane Katrina, to get a makeover

Tulane University will transform New Orleans' long-vacant Charity Hospital into a $500 million medical research hub, with construction expected to start this fall and completion targeted for 2029. The 1930s Art Deco landmark, shuttered after Hurricane Katrina in 2005, will house Tulane's Celia Scott Weatherhead School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, the Tulane University Innovation Institute, and parts of the School of Medicine. Tulane signed a purchase and sale agreement with original developer 1532 Tulane Holdco in June, transitioning from tenant to owner and lead developer. The project is supported by the Goldring Family Foundation, the state of Louisiana, the city of New Orleans and BioDistrict New Orleans. The redevelopment is expected to generate a $1.2 billion economic impact for Louisiana, create 7,300 construction jobs and support more than 2,400 permanent jobs. The announcement coincides with Louisiana marking the storm's 21st anniversary on Aug. 29.