Apogen to turn New Orleans naval base into IT center

Apogen Technologies has won a consulting contract to transform the Naval Support Activity facility at the Algiers Naval Base in New Orleans into a federal government high-tech headquarters complex, to be known as Federal City.

Terms of the contract were not released.

The project, which has the backing of the Louisiana congressional delegation and state and city leaders, will be led by retired Marine Corps Maj. Gen. David Mize, senior vice president at Apogen.

The transformation project is part of the Louisiana Federal City initiative to build state-of-the-art headquarters on the base for military and other federal tenants that have homeland security responsibilities. According to plans, the buildings will have tight perimeter security with the latest force protection and hurricane standards incorporated.

Because the project involves all new construction and multiple tenants can split the overhead expenses of the base, office space will incorporate the latest in technology, efficiency and security at affordable lease rates, according to a statement from Apogen.

The New Orleans facility had been slated for closure by the Defense Department during the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure process. But the decision was overturned after the BRAC Commission approved Louisiana’s Federal City plan. Mize, chairman of the Mayor’s Military Advisory Committee of Greater New Orleans, played a major role in helping to overturn the original BRAC recommendation.

“The Federal City project is an innovative solution for providing secure, affordable government facilities while driving the economic development of an area in so much need,” said Paul Leslie, chief executive officer of Apogen, in the statement.