On Tuesday, January 14, 2025, the Downtown Development District (DDD) of the City of New Orleans and Greater New Orleans, Inc., in partnership with the New Orleans Building Corporation and RockStep Capital, installed a new iconic sign on Downtown New Orleans’ Spanish Plaza.
Installed by local fabricator Downtown FabWorks, the sign commemorates the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. Its design mirrors the trademarked emblem of Desire NOLA—a non-profit established after Hurricane Katrina to support civic and community-based projects.
To honor the legacy of this local non-profit, the installation includes a plaque that states: “Desire NOLA was founded in 2005 by a group of young community members committed to rebuilding the Greater New Orleans area following Hurricane Katrina. This installation honors the legacy of these citizens, many who have assumed leadership positions in civic, business, and political fields.”
The project intends to bring visitors to Spanish Plaza, the Riverwalk, and the surrounding area to take pictures, acknowledge this legacy, and celebrate their love for the City. Further, it is part of DDD’s Economic Development Strategy to implement placemaking concepts throughout Downtown neighborhoods that add vitality to the existing urban fabric.
In addition to Downtown FabWorks, other firms working on this project included local engineering firm Batture, LLC, stonework company La Pavers, and custom plaque manufacturer Ed. Smith’s Stencil Works, Ltd. DDD also worked with various City of New Orleans departments to implement the project.
“DDD is thrilled to bring this installation to the foot of Canal Street. As one of many creative placemaking projects being rolled out over the next few weeks, this project will bring locals and visitors Downtown to take pictures and celebrate their love for New Orleans,” said DDD President & CEO Davon Barbour.
“This monument will create a new icon in America’s most iconic city,” said Michael Hecht, President & CEO of Greater New Orleans, Inc. “We are proud to partner with the City, DDD, Desire NOLA, RockStep Capital, and the NOBC to bring this wonderful idea to life.”
“It is an honor to see the iconic Desire NOLA symbol celebrated as public art for Super Bowl LIX,” commented Chris Kane, Immediate Past Chair of GNO, Inc. and founding member of Desire NOLA. “It represents a period of time in our City’s history that saw a group of young professionals step-up and play a vital role in supporting our recovery from Hurricane Katrina. Nearly twenty years later, many of those individuals have gone on to serve in a wide range of community and business leadership roles in the Greater New Orleans region.”