Contractors race to save crumbling, 156-year-old New Orleans building
NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) – A six-block section of New Orleans’ Central Business District remained closed to traffic Monday (Dec. 16) as emergency efforts continue to stabilize the historic Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities (LEH) headquarters.
The 156-year-old building on Lafayette Street, which went up just after the Civil War, began crumbling over the weekend, raising concerns for nearby businesses and residents.
Crumbling bricks were being cleared Monday as shoring contractors from Abry Brothers, one of the region’s most experienced firms, worked to secure the building’s structure with metal supports.
“We’re not putting people inside of the building until we get it secured on the outside of the building,” said Thomas Abry, head of the shoring firm.
The collapse has forced surrounding streets to close and nearby businesses, including the popular Maypop restaurant, to shut down indefinitely.
“We could possibly be out of business. This is our busiest time of the year, the holidays right now, and we are shut down indefinitely,” Chef Michael Gulotta said.
City records show that permits were requested for the building in 2020, 2022 and 2024.
- 2020: A permit was issued for interior demolition, including partitions, ceilings, and plumbing fixtures
- 2022: A permit request to conceal rooftop cooling towers was not issued
- 2024: A permit for exterior restoration, including masonry and stucco repairs, was issued
The building originally was constructed in 1868 as Turner’s Hall, a German-American gymnasium.
“The German community here was very civic engaged they were communal and they were into gymnastics and healthfulness, and this was a German gymnasium,” said Tulane Geographer and Historian Richard Campanella.
Abry Brothers, which has been performing shoring work since before the building’s construction, says they have done similar projects in recent years successfully.
“We feel like we’ve got it pretty secure actively. This is more safety precautions to make sure nothing moves on us,” said Abry.
Abry says he’s confident they can save the historic structure but more work is required.
“Right now we’re pulling some more shoring out of our yard … some horizontal supports. That bottom wall looks like it’s trying to kick out a little bit, so we need to retain that wall back so it doesn’t continue to move outward,” Abry said.
Miranda Restovic, executive director of the LEH, said 27 displaced employees are working remotely while the building is being mitigated. She said about $6 million had been invested into the structure in recent years “to upgrade and renovate our historic home.”
The first floor of the building houses The Helis Foundation John Scott Center, a museum displaying the artist’s prized works.
“Additional measures will be taken to further ensure the safety and integrity of the space and the art within our care,” Restovic said in a statement. “While the cause of the issue remains unknown, we are thankful to report that no one was hurt and no artwork was damaged. … We understand this is impacting our neighbors and appreciate their patience as we continue to address the situation.
“Rest assured that we are steadfast in our commitment to ensure the preservation of John Scott’s critical body of work and our historic home while continuing to fully carry out the duties and responsibilities of our organization. Over the last decade, we have communicated our ongoing concerns about heavy vehicles traveling along O’Keefe, and also the potential adverse impacts of major construction around us to the integrity of our historic building. We will continue to advocate for system-level support of historic structures in our city, especially as it pertains to urban design decisions and practical solutions.”
Attempts to reach the city for comment on the permit process have not yet been successful.
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