The Ernest N. Morial Convention Center recently approved a deal to purchase the former Louisiana ArtWorks building on Howard Avenue.

According to The Advocate, the convention center board authorized the acquisition of the 94,000-square-foot building for $8 million from its current owner, the New Orleans Culinary and Hospitality Institute.

The New Orleans Culinary and Hospitality Institute (NOCHI) purchased the building from the Arts Council of New Orleans a few years ago for $6.2 million, after a auction for the property.  Other bidders included co-working community Launch Pad and the advisory board of the Louisiana Civil Rights Museum.

Despite purchasing the building, the NOCHI project never got off the ground.

The Convention Center will put $4 million in to the building, and lease it to NOCHI with the hopes that they can raise enough money to actually get the program off the ground.  According to The Advocate, if NOCHI cannot, then the convention center will look to reposition it for other uses in the future.

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