City of New Orleans Announces Municipal Complex Advisory Committee

NEW ORLEANS - The Moreno Administration, the New Orleans City Council, and the Orleans Parish Civil District Court Judicial Building Commission are pleased to announce the appointment of the Municipal Complex Advisory Committee.  Per Executive Order HM26-08, Mayor Moreno established the Committee of local thought leaders and experts to review and make recommendations for the development of new city hall and civil district court facilities for New Orleans.   

“Now is the time to look forward to New Orleans’ future and an opportunity to deliver a people-centric civic complex,” said Mayor Moreno. “This diverse committee of experienced leaders is focused on improving how residents experience public service, how we steward public resources responsibly, and how we position New Orleans for the next generation.  I want the public to be involved in this process, because at the end of the day, this project is truly about the people of New Orleans and how we can better serve them.”  

The existing facilities have been in operation since the 1950s—the existing City Hall is only the third in New Orleans’ 300-year history.  These aging buildings are plagued by operational inefficiencies, inadequate space, inconsistent public access, and they lack modern technology and infrastructure.  The residents of New Orleans deserve better, and the Committee process will allow for the Administration and City Council’s decisions around this once-in-a-hundred-year project to be informed by subject matter experts and meaningful public engagement. 

The Committee consists of eleven members appointed by the Mayor, the City Council, and the Judicial Building Commission.   

• Dr. Joseph Bouie Jr., Chancellor, Southern University at New Orleans  

• Kim M. Boyle, Partner, Phelps Dunbar LLP  

• Cynthia (“Cindy”) Connick Varisco, Senior Associate, Connick & Associates; Past CEO, New Orleans Building Corporation 

• Jasmine Brown DeRousselle, Chief External Affairs Officer, GNO, Inc.  

• Paul Flower, Chief Executive Officer, Woodward Design + Build  

• Roy A. Glapion, Vice President/Member, The Beta Group  

• Andy Kopplin, President & Chief Executive Officer, Greater New Orleans Foundation  

• Zachary H. Kupperman, President, Kupperman Companies  

• Dr. Reynold Verret, President, Xavier University of Louisiana  

• Dominic Willard, Principal/Owner, Willard Design Group  

• Sharonda Williams, Vice President, Regulatory & Public Affairs, Entergy New Orleans  

Over the next six months, the Committee will hold a series of public meetings to evaluate options and provide recommendations for the future of city hall and civil district court. Those options include renovation of the existing facilities or existing office tower space, new construction on Duncan Plaza, or a hybrid project involving new construction of smaller buildings for the mayor, council chambers, and courtrooms while leasing existing office tower space for administrative functions, as well as project delivery and financing models.  The committee will also explore building a City Hall annex in New Orleans East.  

“I’m the type of person that does not like to count my chickens before they are hatched or an ‘I’ll believe it when I see it’ person, especially for something that has been a long time coming – a new Civil Courthouse; however, I am thrilled by the Mayor’s Executive Order and the formation of this vital Advisory Committee, because I trust and believe that the vision of a much-needed, suitable facility for the people of and who visit the City of New Orleans to access our unique civil justice system is beginning to take shape.” said Judge Omar Mason, Chair of the Civil District Court Judicial Building Commission. 

“We are honored to play a role in laying the groundwork for this transformative project that will serve generations of New Orleanians. We look forward to the work ahead.” said Annie McBride, CEO of the New Orleans Building Corporation, the agency tasked with facilitating the Committee’s work.   

The Committee’s first meeting is scheduled to take place on July 22, 2026, at 1 p.m. in the second-floor conference room at Union Passenger Terminal.  Committee information, including future meeting dates, locations, and agendas, will be published on the committee’s nola.gov homepage.  

In addition to the series of Committee meetings, at least two more public listening sessions for this project will be hosted over the course of the sixth month process, with meeting details to be posted on the MCAC homepage.  Please check the MCAC homepage for the most up to date information.