Federal City is a $700 million joint initiative by the State of Louisiana, the local government, and the private sector to develop a mixed use facility on the site of a former military base located on the west bank of the Mississippi River in New Orleans, Louisiana. This exciting pilot project rethinks the traditional U.S. military base, weaving commercial and residential functions back into the urban fabric. The military is partnering with local developers to create a new urbanist, landmark sustainable “city-within-a-city.” Phase I is currently under construction. The goal of the project for both the owner and the military is to establish precedents for regional best practice through pilot projects and leadership in sustainable development principles and green design.

FutureProof became involved in the early stages of Federal City, acting as sustainability consultants during the master planning process, and in the ongoing role of Owner’s Sustainability Representative. Part of their responsibility as systems designers is implementing campus-wide strategies and designing and implementing pilot projects that showcase the overarching sustainability goals of the project. The master plan includes a District Stormwater System and sets aggressive targets and limits for runoff volume and allowable release rates. To help the project meet these goals, FutureProof has been tasked with transforming Phase I into five green showcase pilots that will set the standard for the next phase of building. They include the LEED Silver Marine Forces Reserve Building, a parking structure which will incorporate photovoltaic solar panels to supply energy for the lighting, an electric car recharging system, cisterns to water an extensive green wall system, biocells and other sustainable landscape features at the street level, a LEED Certified Auditorium, a YMCA, and a charter school. These pilots will be incorporated into and tied together by a campus-wide landscape/water management strategy.