The John Minor Wisdom Courthouse was built between 1909 and 1915. It currently houses the US Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This renovation project was a challenge before it ever began. Two days after we were awarded the project, Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans. The renovation and MEP upgrade work was done in the context of a dysfunctional city with few of the construction resources one would expect in a large metropolitan area. Over the course of a year, we changed out seventeen large HVAC units and the main building electrical switchgear with sub-panels, transformers, and associated secondary wiring, all while keeping the court fully functioning during normal working hours.
