Work To Start On New Home For Orchestra

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Construction is expected to start within the next 60 days on renovation of a former department store as the new home of the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra.

New Orleans CityBusiness reports the project should cost about $8 million.

Landis Construction was the lone bidder on conversion of the building on Oretha Castle Haley Boulevard into a 14,000-square-foot flexible performance space and community center.

Christian Generes, vice president of preconstruction for Landis, says construction should be complete by the end of the year.

Kronberg Wall Architects of Atlanta designed the space.

The orchestra's ownership group bought the building in September 2013 for $600,000 from Cayman Realty LLC.

State records show Robert and Terry Segura of New Orleans and Robert Ward of Germantown, Tenn., as members of Cayman Realty.