John Minor Wisdom 5th Circuit United States Court of Appeals

Called “the most important building in the South” in a 1911 review of architecture, this edifice built as a Post Office and Courthouse occupies an entire city block in New Orleans adjacent to Lafayette Square. Designed by James Gamble Rogers of the New York firm Hale and Rogers, the Italian Renaissance style home of the Fifth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals is on the National Register of Historic Places. Its three courtrooms, and particularly its central En Banc courtroom, are immense volumes impressive in their detail and ornament. Waggonner and Ball has completed many projects for and in the building, including a preservation plan; a program development study to replace outmoded mechanical equipment and ductwork, provide new electrical equipment and construct new public restrooms in historic locations; construction of a catwalk to provide access throughout the attic; a lobby restoration and lighting study; construction of a lobby security station; installation of sound systems in the three courtrooms; provision of courtroom handicapped accessibility; design of a new En Banc court bench; restoration of the Chief Judge’s Chamber; and a ground floor master plan and space allocation plan.